Loftus-Cheek, with ‘hard work’ can reach the top, insists Chelsea interim Guus Hiddink

Ruben Loftus-Cheek celebrates his debut goal in Chelsea's FA Cup third round win over Scunthorpe. Glyn Kirk / AFP

Guus Hiddink has challenged Ruben Loftus-Cheek to put in the hard work required to fulfil his potential after the teenager scored his first Chelsea goal in their 2-0 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe.

Loftus-Cheek gave a glimpse of his talent when he came off the bench to sweep home Cesar Azpilicueta’s pass with a composed finish in the 68th minute at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The 19-year-old finished off third tier Scunthorpe after Diego Costa had given Chelsea an early lead in the third round tie, but Hiddink claims the gifted midfielder still has a lot of work to do before he is the finished article.

London-born Loftus-Cheek has been regarded as the jewel in Chelsea’s academy crown for some time, but previous manager Jose Mourinho was critical of his attitude and rarely used him.

After pumping millions into overhauling the youth system of a club that hasn’t produced a star of their own since John Terry, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is desperate for more homegrown players to emerge.

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Abramovich celebrated in unusually exuberant fashion when Loftus-Cheek scored, but Hiddink made a point of highlighting both the youngster’s potential and areas where improvement is needed.

“Ruben came in and he had a beautiful goal, not just in the execution but the way he prepared himself, and that was good to see,” Hiddink said.

“It’s important he also has a hard-working role. If you play No 10 it’s a role where you can maybe get away without so much hard work, but that’s not what we want.

“I start knowing these youngsters now. I can see the possibilities they have and what they have to work on also.”

Asked if he felt pressured by Abramovich to introduce more youngsters into the first-team, Hiddink said he is free to pick who he likes, but the Dutchman did concede Chelsea were right to expect more from such a heavy investment.

“It is normal when you have the academy with a lot of investment you must develop players in the Premier League,” he said.

“If you see three or four of these players coming into the team that is what you want.

“It is not said (by Abramovich) but that is the consequence of the academy; you have to use them, under the conditions that they learn.

“Our position in the league gives a few options for putting young players in the team.”

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Hiddink has overseen a four-match unbeaten run, including successive victories against Scunthorpe and Crystal Palace, since replacing Mourinho.

But he is well aware that Chelsea’s rehabilitation after their remarkable collapse under Mourinho is still far from complete.

“There were some vulnerabilities in the second half, it is true. We have to improve,” Hiddink said.

“It was a difficult game, which we expected. We got a little bit sloppy in finishing it off after a good start.”

With their Premier League title defence already in tatters, Hiddink said reclaiming the FA Cup — a competition he won with the club in his previous interim spell in 2009 — would help salvage a troubled campaign.

“We are aiming for the FA Cup, we have the Premier League which is difficult to get to fourth place, so it was a very important game to get to the next round,” he said.

“We are very determined to go on to get silverware.”

To enjoy a successful end to the season, Hiddink will need Costa to stay fit and in form.

The Spain striker’s fourth goal in his last three appearances was well timed after his midweek training ground row with Oscar once again raised questions about his explosive temper.

“If you see his goal in slow motion it was a difficult goal, but he was so focused and concentrated to get the flick on it,” Hiddink said. “It’s nice to see when he is focused on the right things.”

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