Sam Allardyce believes Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be on a par with Tottenham stars Dele Alli and Harry Kane had he had more first-team football at a younger age.

Loftus-Cheek departed Chelsea for Allardyce’s former club Crystal Palace on loan two weeks ago, becoming Frank De Boer’s first-signing.

The 21-year-old made his senior debut at Chelsea on December 10 2014 but over the following years made only another 31 appearances.

Last season Loftus-Cheek played only 30 minutes of Premier League football for Antonio Conte’s Premier League title winners and Allardyce fears the 21-year-old’s development has been curtailed by years on the Chelsea sidelines.

“It's nice to see Ruben Loftus-Cheek going to Crystal Palace,” Allardyce told the Press Association.

“I think if he'd done it five years ago he may well have been another Dele Alli or Harry Kane but unfortunately his development has been blocked by staying at Chelsea so long.

“There aren't enough (players) getting into first-team football as quickly as possible. You should be playing first-team football at some level at 17, not 20 or 21. Dele Alli is the pefect example of that, coming through the ranks at MK Dons.

“We need more players playing football at league level and ultimately going back to their club and trying to prove themselves.”