Hodgson still keen to take Loftus-Cheek back to Palace

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson remains interested in re-signing Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The Chelsea midfielder spent last season on loan with Palace and has so far been unable to establish himself as a first-team player at Stamford Bridge.

And Hodgson has made no secret of his desire to bring Loftus-Cheek back on loan or on a permanent basis.

“We admire him, we like him very much and we wish him well,” Hodgson said.

“Of course like a lot of other clubs I’m sure, when the day comes when he becomes available for transfer, we will be sticking our noses into that.

“But whether we will get him again, that’s another matter. Who knows? We will see. He did an outstanding job for us when he came here and really for us answered all the questions that we hoped he would answer.

“It is a hypothesis that Chelsea are not happy with him, and not considering him to be a very important member of their first-team squad. I don’t like to discuss players in that respect.

“Luckily for us and even more for him, (his performances) got him recognised by the national team, and he found himself in Russia representing England, which was a perfect end to the season he had for us.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says he will assess Loftus-Cheek’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s game against Southampton.