Ruben Loftus-Cheek enjoyed an emboldening start to his Chelsea career but with the 2021-22 season underway the midfielder finds himself staring down the barrel of last chance saloon.
Loftus-Cheek was a thrilling prospect for the Blues when he became the first academy product to break through since John Terry in 2014.
However, cursed with injuries and loan spells the Englishman hasn't lived up to his early promise.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek's (left) Chelsea career has been curtailed by injuries and loan spells
In May 2019, Loftus-Cheek's Chelsea career appeared to be taking off.
The central midfielder had finally broken into the Blues' first team under Maurizio Sarri and had seemingly cemented his spot as a bona fide regular starter.
He enjoyed his best chapter at Chelsea under Sarri, scoring 10 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions, even bagging one in the Europa League semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt to send them to Baku.
He had also been named in England's Nations League finals squad, a year after playing himself into the 2018 World Cup squad while on loan at Crystal Palace.
But Loftus-Cheek's upwards trajectory came to a sudden halt when he left Chelsea's post-season charity game against MLS side New England Revolution on crutches. He ruptured his achilles barely 20 minutes after coming on at half-time.
The midfielder ruptured his achilles during a post-season charity game in May 2019
Despite signing a new five-year deal that summer, his future no longer seemed bright.
Although he technically recovered from the injury, the damage to his game was unrepairable and he only played nine times in the following campaign.
He told Chelsea's "YouTube channel: 'I came back from injury, didn't feel myself, didn't feel powerful. I wasn't running past people, I lost a lot of muscle and power. I felt like I needed to get away and play as much football as possible, and I got that.'
He was sent away from Stamford Bridge, spending last season loan at Fulham.
The 25-year-old spent last season away from Stamford Bridge on loan at Fulham
Fulham were relegated but Loftus-Cheek got needed game time before returning to Chelsea
It was a mixed time at Craven Cottage for Loftus-Cheek, with Fulham having been relegated while his influence over the team waned.
However, his spell at Fulham provided him with much-needed game time and he has seemingly returned to the Cobham training ground physically and mentally refreshed.
Roma boss Jose Mourinho had been eyeing a move to raid his former club for Loftus-Cheek this summer but a deal failed to materialise before the window slammed shut last week.
Loftus-Cheek is staying at the club for now as coach Thomas Tuchel opened the door to a second chance for the England international.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel (left) has opened the door to a second chance for Loftus-Cheek
