Callum can leave his old Chelsea team even more blue
HUDSON-ODOI SHOWS HE IS BARGAIN OF SEASON
CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI has been backed to show Chelsea what they are missing – as Nottingham Forest bid to seal safety today.
Forest sit three points clear of the drop zone in 17th place after failing in their appeal against a four-point deduction for breaching Premier League PSR rules.
Hudson-Odoi’s two goals in last Saturday’s 3-1 win at Sheffield United helped hand Forest the advantage in their survival scrap heading into the final two games.
It also provided more evidence Hudson-Odoi, 23, is one of the bargain buys of the season after Chelsea let the Champions League winner join Forest for £3million last summer.
He has seven Premier League goals this season, showing the winger is recapturing his old form.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo, right, said: “There is a lot more to come. He is showing a lot of improvement but the most difficult part is to sustain the level of performance he’s produced.
“That’s the big challenge he has and the team have.”
Forest will be safe by the time they kick off, if Luton lose and Burnley fail to win.
Nuno said: “That [kicking off first] is better because it is like a penalty shoot-out. You always choose to go first. It can add pressure on your opponent.
“Let’s just focus on ourselves. We are ready to go. Normally we have a television on in the dressing room but we will just try to keep the preparations normal.”
One boost for Forest has been the return of last season’s leading scorer Taiwo Awoniyi after an injury-hit season.
Nuno said: “We have to manage the situation carefully. If he can give us a hand, it’s good for us as he has quality.”
Owner Evangelis Marinakis has predicted great things for Forest but took a sideswipe at the Premier League.
The Greek, buoyant after his other club, Olympiakos, beat Aston Villa to reach the Europa Conference League final, said: “I am confident we will stay up and you will see in years to come where Forest will be. “It’s a great club and we want to do more, but it is not fair what has happened.
“Referees’ decisions have cost us points and this is something that has been repeated and repeated. What we expect for the Premier League and referees is to correct these mistakes.”