Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek would be playing regularly in the Barclays Premier League if his side were n't under pressure in a title race situation , according to manager Jose Mourinho . Loftus-Cheek was on the bench for Chelsea 's 1-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday and is now a full-time member of Mourinho 's first-team squad having made substitute appearances against Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City this season . And Mourinho believes the 19-year-old midfielder is ready to play in the first team at Chelsea , although he is yet to start a game even in the absence of Nemanja Matic or John Obi Mikel . Ruben Loftus-Cheek would already be playing for Chelsea if the pressure was n't so great , says Jose Mourinho . Mourinho had high praise for Loftus-Cheek despite him not appearing from the bench against West Ham . Mourinho rates the 19-year-old midfielder and has used him against Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City . Find out more about Ruben Loftus-Cheek with Sportsmail 's guide to the 19-year-old midfielder HERE . ' I had Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the bench and I have to say that , in my opinion , next year , this kid will be a big surprise in the Premier League , ' Mourinho said after the win over West Ham . 'This season , if I was not playing for the title and if we were not playing with the pressure we have when you are playing for the title , this kid would already be on the pitch . 'But it 's step-by-step and today was again a day for ( Kurt ) Zouma to help John ( Terry ) and ( Gary ) Cahill in a game when ( Diafra ) Sakho and ( Enner ) Valencia are very difficult opponents . ' Loftus-Cheek could even see more game-time before the end of the season , with Mourinho likely to rest players for a potential Champions League bid if Chelsea wrap up the title early enough . The youngster has already been earmarked as a future England international by Mourinho and previously attracted the interest of Manchester City , Manchester United , Real Madrid and Barcelona . Kurt Zouma ( left ) was selected for a second successive game in midfield in Mourinho 's Chelsea side . Loftus-Cheek takes on Carlos Mane of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League in December . March 15 : Southampton ( H ) March 22 : Hull City ( A ) April 4 : Stoke City ( H ) April 12 : Queens Park Rangers ( A ) April 18 : Manchester United ( H ) April 26 : Arsenal ( A ) April 29 : Leicester City ( A ) May 2 : Crystal Palace ( H ) May 9 : Liverpool ( H ) May 16 : West Bromwich Albion ( A ) May 24 : Sunderland ( H )
Jose Mourinho says Ruben Loftus-Cheek is ready for the Premier League . But manager is leaving the youngster out due to Chelsea 's title pressure . Midfielder was on the bench for Chelsea 's 1-0 win over West Ham . Loftus-Cheek has come on as a substitute twice for Chelsea this season . CLICK HERE for all the latest Chelsea news .