Ruben Loftus-Cheek last played for the national team four years ago but is staking a late claim to be included in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad.
The Chelsea midfielder was part of the group that memorably reached the semi-finals in Russia, winning four of his 10 caps during the tournament.
Fit and in form, the 26-year-old is now being linked with a timely return to international duty at next month's World Cup.
“He’s really impressed me, on and off the pitch. He’s a very humble guy, he wants to learn, he wants to improve,” says Potter, formerly of Brighton and Hove Albion.
“He’s clearly benefited from game time but, at the same time, the way he’s trained has been really, really good. He’s played and it’s allowed him to build his fitness up. He needs a good fitness level to carry that big body of his around the pitch.
“His quality’s there. He’s fantastic on the ball, great physicality, great athlete. I think he’s putting himself into a situation where he’ll be one of the players Gareth will be looking at as an outsider into the squad. But that’s Gareth’s decision.”
