From Milan Renaissance to England Recall: Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s Remarkable Journey Back to International Football

A Surprising International Return

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been dramatically recalled to the England squad by manager Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming matches against Andorra and Serbia. The 29-year-old midfielder’s last appearance for the national team was in November 2018, making this recall particularly noteworthy.

Milan Success Story

Since joining AC Milan in 2023, Loftus-Cheek has made an impressive impact with 71 appearances, contributing 11 goals and three assists. His most recent performance showcased his quality in a 2-0 victory over Lecce, where he scored the opening goal and maintained an exceptional 90.9% pass accuracy.

Versatile Midfielder Finding His Form

Throughout his career, Loftus-Cheek has demonstrated remarkable versatility, playing in various positions from central midfield to wing-back and even centre-back. At Milan, under Stefano Pioli’s management, he has returned to his preferred attacking role, operating as both a ‘mezzala’ (box-to-box midfielder) and ‘trequartista’ (attacking midfielder) in their flexible tactical system.

The Road Ahead

England’s upcoming fixtures begin with a World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Villa Park on September 6, followed by an away match in Serbia on September 9. The midfielder himself has shown humility regarding his return, admitting that he had “completely forgot about it and was being a fan of the team instead”.

Reunion with Tuchel

The call-up creates an interesting reunion with Thomas Tuchel, his former Chelsea manager, under whom he made 40 appearances during the 2021-22 season. This existing relationship could prove beneficial as Loftus-Cheek aims to cement his place in the national team setup ahead of upcoming international tournaments.