‘Ruben’s got a new contract. I’ve spoken highly of him since he first started training with us, I think he’s going to be a big player so it’s great news.’

In part one of our interview yesterday, we presented Ruben Loftus-Cheek with a quote from Guus Hiddink speaking about the midfielder. Today it is the turn of a Gary Cahill quote when he too was reacting to the news of the young player’s new contract.

Unlike the words from the manager, this is the first time Loftus-Cheek has heard what Cahill said when speaking to the media after the midweek win over Norwich, but his reaction shows he is just as pleased.

‘That is nice of him, Gary is a top bloke and he really helps me a lot too, and he is a funny guy,’ says Loftus-Cheek.

Cahill was no doubt referring to reputation in the game when he said ‘big player’ but in terms of physical stature alone, the 20-year-old has already achieved a very good height for a midfielder. It can only be an advantage even if it has caused problems along the way.

‘I think I have stopped growing now,’ Loftus-Cheek informs us. ‘The last time I checked I hadn’t grown. I am just under 6ft 3 now but because I had such a growth spurt it was quite hard to get used to my body, it takes a while.

‘I grew so quickly I was getting injured a lot a few years back, with my knees playing up. It was just about managing me correctly and the Academy did a great job with that and it helped me a lot. I am grateful and I haven’t had any bad injures since.

‘Hopefully that will continue and I still do a lot of injury prevention work, and I will keep that going.’

Once upon a time, in a more straightforward tactical age, Loftus-Cheek would probably be described as having all the attributes needed to be a classic box-to-box midfielder, but in an era when distinctions are frequently drawn between defensive midfielders and attacking midfielders, his career so far marks him down as potentially able to play as either.