Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alphadjo Cissé are expected to see their roles shrink further in the coming weeks, even with a congested run of seven games in 18 days after the international break, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Christian Pulisic's return and the continued development of Diego Moreira have pushed Loftus-Cheek further down the queue. The Englishman went from regular starter earlier in the season to reserve, and a striking stat underlines the decline: he has covered less total distance than Mike Maignan this season, albeit with far fewer minutes on the pitch. That is not a figure that sits well with Rúben Amorim's demand for intensity.
Gazzetta predict that, barring injuries, Loftus-Cheek and Cissé will be the two players most affected as Amorim distributes minutes across the packed October schedule. For Loftus-Cheek, any appearances are likely to come in a role close to goal, where his eye for a finish and his ability to arrive late in the box still offer something. Asking him for 90 minutes of high pressing is a different proposition, and one the coaching staff appear reluctant to make.
The picture is clear enough: a busy month does not guarantee opportunities for everyone, and Amorim is drawing sharper lines around his squad than his predecessor did. For Loftus-Cheek in particular, the path back now runs through short, specific cameos rather than full matches.