QS: Loftus-Cheek becomes the ‘added weapon’ for Milan amid positive start

One of the stand-out performers for AC Milan so far this season has been Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and we are seeing a ‘new’ version of him.

As Quotidiano Sportivo (via PianetaMilan) write this morning, Loftus-Cheek is ‘off to a flying start’ in his third season at Milan, having begun the campaign under a different coach again (four in total).

He is a starter for Massimiliano Allegri’s new Milan, having started in the Coppa Italia against Bari and then in Serie A against Cremonese and Lecce, even scoring against the Salento side. His excellent performances so far earned Loftus-Cheek a return to the England squad after a seven-year absence.

Ruben on the rise

The last time that Loftus-Cheek was called up by his country was on 15 November 2018, in a 3-0 win against Christian Pulisic’s United States in London. Thomas Tuchel has summoned him after Adam Wharton’s injury, and he could play against Strahinja Pavlovic’s Serbia tomorrow.

Loftus-Cheek is raring to go, given that – due to injuries – he missed a staggering 37 games in the last two years at Milan. He had appendicitis (which needed surgery), hamstring problems  and adductor problems.

Photos: Paul Kane/Getty Images

He performed very well in the 2023-24 season under Stefano Pioli (10 goals in 40 games. However, he was almost always sidelined in the last season under Paulo Fonseca first and then Sérgio Conceição, and when he did play he struggled.

Allegri, upon his arrival at Milan, described him as ‘an important player’. He urged him – like his departmental colleague Youssouf Fofana – to chip in with goals. In fact, the coach expects the pair score at least 15 goals between them this season.

RLC got off to a good start in Lecce, and Tuchel noticed, stating in a press conference: “He’s full of qualities, and sometimes I don’t think he’s aware of how good he is.” With this in mind, everything is in place to produce a top-notch season.