Ruben Loftus-Cheek must leave Chelsea on a permanent basis - Sam Allardyce

Former England manager Sam Allardyce believes Ruben Loftus-Cheek must part ways with Chelsea on a permanent basis, if he is to build his own career with regular gametime.

The midfielder enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with Crystal Palace during the course of the previous campaign and this saw him recognised by England boss Gareth Southgate, who rewarded him with a World Cup berth.

However, since his return to Chelsea, Loftus-Cheek has largely been on periphery of the first-team under Maurizio Sarri and Allardyce feels the midfielder may have to leave Stamford Bridge permanently to build his career.

"I'm disappointed for Loftus-Cheek. Chelsea have told him he's going to be a part of the team this season and, if that is the case, they haven't lived up to that yet," he told talkSPORT.

"If I were Loftus-Cheek I would be battering the door down in January and saying, 'that's it, I need to get away'. And not on loan, get away from Chelsea properly and build his own career."

Loftus-Cheek has been sidelined twice with minor niggles this campaign and he has managed just one start coming in the Europa League against Hungarians MOL Vidi.

He is presently behind the likes of N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic in the pecking order for the midfield positions and his chances of regular league football appear bleak for the moment.