Roy Hodgson promises Crystal Palace will be 'at the front of the queue' to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea
The 22-year-old has impressed in south London during a season-long loan from the Blues
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Your support makes all the difference.Crystal Palace will be at the “front of the queue” to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the summer, according to Roy Hodgson.
The 22-year-old has impressed in south London during a season-long loan from Chelsea, so much so that England boss Gareth Southgate is considering taking hm to the World Cup this summer.
And he was involved again on Saturday at the Bet365 Stadium, setting up James McArthur’s equaliser as the Eagles came from behind to win 2-1; a result that secured their Premier League survival at the expense of Stoke's.
“He’s a fantastic player and of course we've love to keep him,” said Hodgson. “We’d love to bring him back but the bottom line is he was loaned to us for a season at the end of the season the plan from Chelsea was that he would go back to them so I guess we'll have to wait and see what their thinking is.
“If they make him available in any way then of course we'll be right there trying to get to the front of the queue with our hands up but it's totally out of our hands. Chelsea will decide.”
South London born Loftus-Cheek, who has played more games this season at Palace than during four years at Stamford Bridge, earned his first senior call-ups to the Three Lions squad for two friendlies against Germany and Brazil in November.
He earned the Man of the Match award on his debut against the World Champions and but a serious ankle injury picked up shortly after saw him miss three months of the season and put a World Cup call-up in jeopardy.
However, since returning in April, Hodgson believes the playmaker has done enough to be considered for Southgate’s squad in Russia.
The Palace boss added: “I'm just hoping that having had such a long period out with injury that his performances since he's come back has at least given him a chance of getting recognised by the people who are going to select the England team .
“I’m just really pleased that at least now they know he's there just as they knew he was there before he got seriously injured in December.
“It's Gareth Southgate's decision and his coaching staff, I don't want to see a headline that says 'Hodgson says Ruben Loftus-Cheek should go to the World Cup'.
“But if Gareth wants to check anything with me about his form and the way he is of course he knows where I am and I'm sure he'll contact me but I think he knows enough about him anyway.
“I trust him to make the decision that he wants to make and if he takes him it will be because he thinks Ruben has done well and is the right man for him and if he doesn't it will be because he thinks there are other people better qualified but I would just back whatever decision he makes.
“From a player who often played bit parts at Chelsea I think he's shown here at Crystal Palace that this is a bona fide Premier League player with great talent.”
Meanwhile, Hodgson batted away suggestions he should be crowned Manager of the Season for his achievement in saving the Eagles from relegation despite a record-breakingly bad start to the season under Frank de Boer.
“It's nice to be mentioned of course, it's an honour,” he said. “The people who choose that award are your peers and know what you're going through.
“They know the suffering that every manager has to endure during the course of a season so if at the end of it when they produce a list of candidates for someone who could possibly be crowned manager of the year [and you're on it] you've got to be very, very proud of that and very grateful for the recognition.
“But I'm fully aware that there has been some very, very good managerial performances this year and as far as I'm concerned I'm happy to be in the frame and I shall be applauding loudly whoever gets the trophy."
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