Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been urged to make a move away from Chelsea, with Glenn Hoddle advising the England international to go in search of regular game time elsewhere.
The 22-year-old opted against departing Stamford Bridge over the summer despite attracting plenty of interest on the back of a productive loan spell at Crystal Palace and international showings for England at the 2018 World Cup.
There was a desire on the part of a Blues academy graduate to make his mark in west London, but Maurizio Sarri’s moves to bring in Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic have shunted him down the pecking order.
EUROPEAN SOCCER LIVE & IN HD ON DAZN | DAZN CA
Loftus-Cheek has shown what he is capable of when given a chance, with a first senior hat-trick recorded in a Europa League clash with BATE, but Hoddle believes an exciting talent will continue to see his development stunted for as long as he remains in his current surrounds.
The former Chelsea and England boss told BT Sport after witnessing a star showing against BATE: “If I'm him, I'm hoping he takes me off before the 90 minutes is up.
“The fact that the manager hasn't suggests to me that he won't be starting him at the weekend.
“I fear for the lad. If he isn't going to get the opportunities soon then he has got to move. He's a talent - with my England hat on I need to see him playing.”
Loftus-Cheek’s outing in continental competition was just his fourth of the season.
He will be hoping to have done enough to figure against Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday, with there a desire on his part to prove his worth to Sarri.
“Any player will tell you it's nice to score a hat-trick. It feels good. Hopefully there'll be many more to come,” Loftus-Cheek said on the back of his European heroics.
“The first thing in my head is to keep training well, even though I'm playing well it's really important to train as hard as I can to keep fitness up and keep sharp for when times like this do come when I get an opportunity to start or come on.
“So first things first, I need to keep up the good habits - eating well, sleeping well and training well and if I keep doing that then good things will come.”