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Fit Hudson- Odoi’s plea to Southgate
CALLUM HUDSON- ODOI insists he is climbing back to the top and is ready to make a big impact for Chelsea and England seniors.
The winger, who has just turned 20, has endured a “roller coaster” 18 months after breaking into Gareth Southgate’s squad, earning three caps, then rupturing his Achilles.
He suffered muscle wastage which he is now rebuilding – along with his confidence.
On Tuesday he scored the opening goal at Molineux as Aidy Boothroyd’s England Under21s beat Albania 5- 0 in their final qualifying match, with the group stages of the European Championship finals starting in March.
“I am working my way back. I keep trying, working. The last 18 months I have enjoyed bits – and not enjoyed bits,” said Hudson- Odoi.
“I put pressure on myself. Sometimes there is a lot of expectation. I just say to myself, ‘ Keep being positive, things might go wrong but be positive’, and I hope the result will be good.
“You want to prove a point that you are ready when called upon.” The Stamford Bridge ace was a target for Bayern Munich and clearly wants a bigger role in the future.
On his fightback from injury, he said: “It has been a roller coaster, up and down. But stuff like that you move on from.
“I am only 20. Sometimes people forget the age because I have been around for a bit. I started young. It is a nice feeling that I have kicked on well and I can keep progressing.” He is taking a senior role in Boothroyd’s U- 21 squad, having scored four in eight appearances.
That included helping convince Bayern Munich prodigy Jamal Musiala to commit to England and not the German national team, which he is also eligible for. Musiala scored on Tuesday night and Hudson- Odoi said: “Jamal is a top, top player. I said to him, ‘ I can’t choose for you, but it would be nice if you stayed with England’. “Hopefully he gets to the seniors as quickly as possible.”