Ruben Loftus-Cheek, at the age of 22, is yet to discover his best position.
The England international has played under five different managers in his bright early career, all of whom found various different qualities.
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Jose Mourinho saw a physically powerful defensive midfielder, while Antonio Conte considered him to be a striker since ‘he has good technique, good personality and he is good one vs one.’
More recently, Roy Hodgson played him on the left of a front three at Crystal Palace, often resemblant of a winger, while England boss Gareth Southgate utilised him as box-to-box right-sided midfielder at the World Cup.
So the question stands: where on earth does Loftus-Cheek actually play?
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Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 may contain the answer – if only he’d pick him.
The Italian tactician relies on a delicate balance between his three midfielders: the deep-lying playmaker, the box-to-box runner, and the advanced source of creativity.
Loftus-Cheek is among three players Sarri can use to emulate Marek Hamsik of Napoli – the talented, technically-gifted midfielder who can drive from deep and join in attack.
Unfortunately for Loftus-Cheek, the other two, Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic, appear to be ahead of him in the pecking order.
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He was not even named among the substitutes as Barkley, and then Kovacic, both impressed in the victory over Arsenal on Sunday.
But just a matter of weeks ago, he looked set for a breakthrough season at the Bridge. Many were quick to point out that the left-side of Sarri’s midfield three perfectly accommodates his various talents.
If presented with the opportunity, he could become outrageously brilliant under Sarri’s management, mastering his craft in a specific role that suits him.
However, as is so often the case with Chelsea, it looks increasingly likely they will deny him the chance and slam the door behind yet another future star.
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He is not a boy, anymore. At 22, Loftus-Cheek has performed at a World Cup and excelled in the Premier League.
He now finds himself at a crossroads. Southgate won’t let him stagnate on the fringes of the Chelsea squad and he may be left with no option but to leave.
It’s just a shame the solution, so glaringly obvious from the outside, appears invisible to Sarri.