Ruben Loftus-Cheek Tells The Story Of Going Up Against Didier Drogba At Age 14

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was told to take on Chelsea legend Didier Drogba during his first day training with the senior squad... an experience which he admits made him realise he needed to hit the gym.

Loftus-Cheek is currently on loan from the Blues at Crystal Palace and looks set to be part of the England squad which will travel to Russia for this summer's World Cup.

However, the prospect of rubbing shoulders with some of the world's best players on the grandest stage of them all shouldn't faze the talented 22-year-old.

Loftus Cheek

Especially as he has the experience of training alongside a Premier League legend like Drogba, when he was just 14.

Loftus-Cheek was speaking to Soccer AM, when he was asked about his first day at Chelsea's training base.

And the youngster had a brilliant story lined up, recalling how he got the day off school only to be handed the enormous task of taking on the former Ivory Coast international in a 1 vs 1 drill...

Not the easiest of challenges on your first day.

"I remember it so clear because I was still at school," he said.

"I was 14 but it was on a thing called day release, so we took the day off school on a Wednesday to train and do school at Cobham and at the end of the day we got asked to train with the first team just because of numbers.

"There was a drill where it was like a 1v1 drill and I got partnered with Drogba. I was going 1v1 with Drogba when I was 14.

"'Okay, I need to get like that. I need to start hitting the gym. But I was still young then. He was a physical presence and his shooting was immense."

Drogba Retires

Loftus-Cheek has made just 20 appearances for the Eagles this season and probably hasn't made a big enough jump in terms of his performances to walk straight into the Chelsea team when he returns to Stamford Bridge.

However, with Antonio Conte's future appearing uncertain and should he have a strong World Cup for England, there's no telling at which level Loftus-Cheek will be playing next term.

This story was first featured on talkingbaws.com - simple, shareable sport. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Topics: Football News, Chelsea, Football, Ruben Loftus Cheek, Premier League

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_