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Ruben Loftus-Cheek has returned to Chelsea for treatment on an ankle injury.

The England midfielder, 21, suffered the injury while playing for Crystal Palace on a season-long loan.

It could rule Loftus-Cheek out of the World Cup, but Palace boss Roy Hodgson is hoping he returns sooner than expected.

“Chelsea insist on having him back there on this period of rehabilitation,” Hodgson explained.

“The agreement is that he will spend two to three weeks without having an surgical intervention, in the hope that naturally the problem will be resolved.

“During that time, Chelsea have insisted they take care of that rather we here at Crystal Palace, because they regard him as their player of course.”

Hodgson added that Palace have no intention of ending Loftus-Cheek’s loan deal as they are hopeful he will be fit before the end of the season.













