Ruben Loftus-Cheek has revealed he “completely forgot” about representing England during a near seven-year absence from the national team, describing himself as “just a fan” for much of that period.
The 29-year-old said he became accustomed to missing out on international call-ups, focusing instead on club football while hoping for another opportunity. “You still want to push in club football with the hope of maybe getting a sniff,” he said.
“But I just completely forgot about it and was being a fan of the team instead.” The AC Milan player also reflected on the mental challenges he faced following a ruptured Achilles, which struck when he was at a career high.
“After that, I had a hard time mentally,” Loftus-Cheek admitted, though he insisted he never lost hope entirely. “I was still young, I still had time to come back, so I wasn’t too low.”
The midfielder also spoke about his recovery, explaining that it took around two years to feel fully himself again. “If you have good people around you, it helps so much, but the main thing comes from your self-drive,” he said. “That belief, to overcome challenges, is paramount in sport and in life,” he concluded.