Ruben Loftus-Cheek facing season-ending surgery

Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s season has come to a crashing halt as his ankle injury has been revealed to be far more significant than originally thought.

The Chelsea loanee, who’s having what is essentially his breakout season at Crystal Palace after all those years of being on the fringes of the Chelsea first-team but never really seeing any consistent playing time, has not played since Palace’s 3-2 loss to Arsenal three weeks ago.

Now, it sounds like he may not play the rest of the season as Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson fears that the 21-year-old might require surgery.

“He may require surgery. The injury is more severe than we originally thought, or perhaps hoped. It hasn’t responded to conservative treatment, rest and massage.

“In a few weeks we will have to assess it again and will have to ask is there a need for stronger intervention. His treatment is being handled by our doctor and the Chelsea doctor, they are making the decisions.

“We misled you initially by saying all he needed was to miss a couple of games and rest. It hasn’t turned out to be the case.

“We don’t know how long it would take after the surgery to get him fit again. I would be very disappointed, surgery or not, if he’s not playing before the end of the season.”

-Roy Hodgson; source: Express

Very disappointing doesn’t even begin to cover this. Fitness issues have plauged RLC’s young career already (his back especially), but other than a couple minor knocks, he was putting together a good, healthy, impressive season up to this point.

Sigh.

Get well soon, Ruben!