Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek determined to grasp Maurizio Sarri style and win regular starting spot

Ruben Loftus-Cheek says he is working hard to understand the way Maurizio Sarri wants him to play but is confident he suits the 4-3-3 system the Italian is using at Chelsea.

Loftus-Cheek has been linked with a loan move to European clubs including Schalke but the midfielder is determined to stay and fight for his place in the Chelsea team.

The 22-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace and went to the World Cup with England, believes he can become a regular at Stamford Bridge this season.

And he wants to impress new Chelsea head coach Sarri and force his way into the team.

Loftus-Cheek said: “The boys are working really hard trying to understand how the boss wants us to play, on and off the ball, and it will only get better.

“Playing in a 4-3-3 in an attacking midfield position is kind of my position really, my suited position, so hopefully I can bring my best football to the team.

“I have just got to work hard, try and play my best football, and try and get as much time on the pitch as possible. You can only really set specific targets when you know you are playing every week, so for me it is just a case of getting my head down, working hard, trying to understand the manager’s tactics and going from there.”

Sarri started Ross Barkley, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante in his midfield three for last Saturday’s 3-0 win at Huddersfield, with Loftus-Cheek replacing Barkley for the final 20 minutes.

If Mateo Kovacic, signed on loan from Real Madrid, is fit to face Arsenal on Saturday then he will compete with Barkley and Loftus-Cheek for the third midfield position.

Tiemoue Bakayoko’s loan move to AC Milan has helped to create space in the Chelsea squad, and Loftus-Cheek believes his loan spell at Palace and going to the World Cup has helped him become more mature as he looks to fight for his place in the team.

Loftus-Cheek said: “We [Palace] had a period at the start where we did not get a win for seven games. I have experienced that and it was not nice. And I have experienced a good run at the end as well, and a decent run in the middle, so I feel like I experienced a lot in one season - different managers as well.

“The loan did me really good. I feel like I have got that experience of a Premier League season now, and international football as well. I feel more mature as a player to help battle for three points every game.”