Ruben Loftus-Cheek has admitted that he doubted whether he would be playing any first-team football this season, let alone hoping to make a first World Cup start for England.

And Loftus-Cheek has delivered a warning to Chelsea that he will not take any risks over his international career by returning from Russia to sit on the substitutes’ bench.

Dele Alli’s injury has potentially opened up a place in England’s midfield for the second Group G game against Panama on Sunday, which Loftus-Cheek is favourite to take ahead of Fabian Delph.

Loftus-Cheek made an impressive 10-minute cameo in which he helped England secure a stoppage-time victory over Tunisia and is now determined to build on what has already been a breakthrough season.

“Playing in the World Cup didn’t go through my thoughts once,” said Loftus-Cheek. “Because, obviously, not playing for so long, going on loan to Crystal Palace was all about fighting for a position. I wasn’t sure I was going to play regularly, so I didn’t think about the World Cup.”