Mason Holgate praises Crystal Palace’s new England star

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Everton defender has always been impressed by Crystal Palace midfielder.

Everton defender Mason Holgate has praised Ruben Loftus-Cheek for breaking into the England senior squad and claimed that the Crystal Palace midfielder has always been one of the nation’s standout youngsters as he has worked his way through the set-up.

Loftus-Cheek, who is on a season-long loan at Palace from Chelsea, produced an excellent display on his senior international debut for England against Germany last week and also featured against Brazil on Tuesday before suffering an injury.

Holgate is fully aware of the qualities that Loftus-Cheek possesses having played with him at youth level for England.

A reported by Everton’s official website, Holgate said: “Ruben has always been one of the best players in the young England set-up,” said Holgate.

“He is strong and can drive powerfully with the ball. He is a really good player – but Crystal Palace have a lot of them. That is something we are aware of and we know we have to be switched on to stop them.

“I think there are a lot of English players who, given the chance in the national team, would take it. Ruben has gone on loan, then got his chance.

“When other English players get a run of games – not just one or two matches, a proper run – it will be proven that English talent is as good as anyone else’s.”

Holgate and Loftus-Cheek, should the latter return from injury in time, could face each other when Everton travel to face Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

The game is likely to be very intense, with both teams having struggled so far this season and in desperate need of points.

Palace, for instance, are bottom of the table, while Everton are currently in 15th place, seven points adrift of their opponents.

Loftus-Cheek will surely be buoyed by his experience with England and will hope to now perform with greater consistency for Palace as he looks to show why he deserves to be given a chance to prove himself at Chelsea.

The 21-year-old certainly possesses the quality to succeed in the long-term at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea are notorious for not giving their youngsters sufficient chances to prove themselves.