Chelsea star Eden Hazard has revealed he is not looking forward to facing Ruben Loftus-Cheek when the two meet in the World Cup next week.

Loftus-Cheek spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace having struggled for game time at Chelsea over the last few seasons.

He impressed at Palace enough to earn a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad, and caught the eye when he came on during the Three Lions’ opening win against Tunisia.

England’s hopes of winning Group G will likely come down to their final game against Belgium, and Hazard admits he fears facing his Blues team mate Loftus-Cheek.

“For the last five years we have trained together and he’s a top player,” Hazard said.

“He’s strong, he’s quick with the ball.

“I don’t want him to play against Belgium because I know in the midfield he is very strong.

“I’m not at all surprised that he has got into the England team.

“He has a lot of quality and if he is there, it’s because he deserves to be.

“He is still young and the future is good for him.”

It is believed that Loftus-Cheek could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge this summer, with the 22-year-old fed up of his lack of first team opportunities.

“I want to play. I want to play as much as I can,” he said when asked about speculation surrounding his future.

“And even this past season just gone I didn’t play as much as I would have liked to because of the injuries and stuff.

“So I still feel I need a proper season of playing – wherever it is.”
[Quotes via Daily Star]