Southgate Disappointed For Injured Loftus-Cheek

By Joshua Walters

England national team coach, Gareth Southgate is disappointed Ruben Loftus-Cheek will not be available for the Three Lions in the Nations League semi-final.

Cheek, who has had a splendid season now faces a long spell on the sidelines after reportedly rupturing his achilles during a friendly in the United States against New England Revolution.

The development has left Southgate disappointed as the Chelsea midfielder will subsequently miss England's first shot at international glory since winning the World Cup in 1966. 

Southgate revealed the player was due to be named in the squad on Thursday for next month’s Nations League tournament in Portugal had he been fit.

"We will find out more about a couple of players in that period and then I am going to have to make a couple of decisions," Southgate told reporters. 

"But we can change if we have injuries after that date. Frankly, there is every chance that is going to happen.

"We have just got to make the best possible decisions really with the information that we have. It is constantly moving.

"I went to bed last night and Ruben is in the squad and playing brilliantly and now it is a huge disappointment for him. He misses now a major European final and a brilliant opportunity with us.

"In particular he has really come on in the last few months and looked strong and playing with a lot of confidence and I am really disappointed for him in particular."

England will take on Netherlands in the semi-final of the Nations League in Guimaraes on June 6 as Switzerland also play Portugal in the other last-four clash five days after the all-English Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs in Madrid.