Ruben Loftus-Cheek credits Crystal Palace loan lessons for Chelsea breakthrough under Maurizio Sarri

The 22-year-old has finally earned a run of first-team appearances at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks

Ruben Loftus-Cheek believes the benefits of his loan spell at Crystal Palace are now paying off for Chelsea.

The 22-year-old England midfielder spent last term on loan at Selhurst Park and is now developing into an integral member of Maurizio Sarri's Blues squad.

"After a season at Palace I felt I really matured, I got to see what the Premier League was like playing week-in, week out," Loftus-Cheek told Chelsea TV.

"At Palace we had to fight a lot. I really think I learned the way to fight and grind out games. After the World Cup I was ready to come back and fight for a place at Chelsea.

"The start of the season was difficult but I'm getting chances now and I'm just looking to do the best I can."

Loftus-Cheek played in a more advanced role in Chelsea's 1-0 EFL Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night and thrived.

But after the introduction of Pedro and Eden Hazard, who scored the decisive goal six minutes from time, Loftus-Cheek dropped back into his more customary midfield position.

That versatility attracted praise from Chelsea assistant boss Gianfranco Zola.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek takes on Nathan Ake (Reuters)

"I was impressed with him," Zola said. "He's done very well as one of the strikers, wide players, but also he showed a lot of application and sacrifice when he played as a midfielder.

"He's gone a long way since the beginning of the season and improved in many ways. He's a good boy and works very hard on his game."

Loftus-Cheek has established himself as a viable option for Sarri on the right flank of Chelsea's 4-3-3, but still believes he has the most to offer in a central role.

"I see myself as a midfielder," he added. "That's where I want to be as I take my career forward. Right now I'm happy to play anywhere, right wing, left wing. I covered a lot of positions [against Bournemouth].

"I'm happy to do it wherever. And I'll give it my best. I think I'm effective if it's coming from deep or getting it higher up and making combinations and getting shots off."

Chelsea will play Tottenham in next month's semi-final. Premier League fixtures against Newcastle and Arsenal take place between the two legs, the second of which is at Stamford Bridge.

Loftus-Cheek is confident that Chelsea will be keen to make amends for the 3-1 league loss at Wembley last month, adding: "Bring it on."

The Blues denied Bournemouth a first EFL Cup semi-final appearance for a second successive year.