Antonio Rudiger (C) and Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard
(L) leave the field after the English Premier League football match
between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in
London on July 26, 2020. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / POOL /
AFP)
Frank Lampard has challenged Callum Hudson-Odoi to
prove his worth for Chelsea when he gets a rare first-team start in
Wednesday’s League Cup clash against Barnsley.
The Blues boss has confirmed the England winger will make just
his second start since February 1 in the match at Stamford
Bridge.
The 19-year-old shot to prominence with both Chelsea and England
after making his debut for the club in 2018, but a ruptured
Achilles tendon last year slowed his progress.
Hudson-Odoi has long since shaken off that issue but continues
to battle for regular football and Lampard said it “remains to be
seen” whether he could be loaned out before the transfer window
closes on October 5.
The Chelsea boss said the winger must seize his opportunities
while other players were unavailable.
“At the moment we have Christian Pulisic injured, Hakim Ziyech
injured. We played Timo Werner out wide against Liverpool,” he
said. “But the absolute natural winger who is fit at the minute is
Callum.
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“He has to show in every minute, on and off the ball, what he
can do for the team and that’s the position Callum is in at the
minute.
“He’s had an early breakthrough in his career because of his
talent, he’s had an injury and now I want to see him flourish
again.”
Bayern Munich are reportedly keen to sign Hudson-Odoi on loan
and Lampard, who has been busy in the transfer market, has not
ruled out departures.
Centre-back Toni Rudiger was omitted from Chelsea’s squad for
Sunday’s 2-0 league loss to Liverpool.
Asked if Rudiger or Hudson-Odoi could leave, even on loan, in
current transfer window, Lampard said: “I’m going to skirt around
that question; it remains to be seen.”
“My priority will always be making sure I maintain and keep the
strongest squad I can for this club but after that of course, the
individual conversations will happen within that,” he added.
“I will try and make sure I go into the season, once the window
shuts, with the squad that I feel is healthy and competitive in a
healthy way.”
AFP
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