Daily Mail

New kids on the block

DRAMATIC ENGLAND CALL-UP FOR WONDERKID HUDSON-ODOI

- By DOMINIC KING

CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI’S remarkable season took another dramatic twist last night when he was called into England’s senior squad. The Chelsea winger left his home in London yesterday morning to join up with the Under 21 team for their forthcomin­g friendlies with Poland and Germany. He arrived at their base in Bristol at 11.30am after a 140-mile journey. But the 18-year-old was soon summoned by Under 21 head coach Aidy Boothroyd and told that a car was waiting to take him on another 140-mile journey to St George’s Park, where he met up with Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s Euro qualifier against Czech Republic on Friday. ‘It’s been a crazy day but getting my first internatio­nal call-up is an amazing feeling,’ he said. ‘Today has been a very long day for me, it’s been a crazy experience but I’m delighted to get the call and it’s a nice feeling to be here

as well. I thought Aidy Boothroyd was joking. I was shocked and then when I heard that I actually had to go over, I couldn’t believe it. I was delighted. Now I’ve got to work hard, enjoy every moment and work to just hopefully make an impact when I get the opportunit­y.’ Hudson-Odoi joins the squad alongside Southampto­n’s James Ward-Prowse after Luke Shaw, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph and John Stones pulled out through injury. Jordan Henderson joined up and is expected to train today after recovering from his ankle problem. Boothroyd had planned to give Hudson-Odoi his first Under 21 cap against Poland at Ashton Gate on Thursday but now it is almost certain the youngster — who has played just 119 minutes in the Premier League this season — will feature in the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Friday and Montenegro three days later. If he plays in either game, he will become the second-youngest player to feature in a competitiv­e England internatio­nal. Meanwhile, Chelsea have lodged a complaint with UEFA after Hudson-Odoi was allegedly subjected to racist abuse late in their Europa League victory at Dynamo Kiev last week. ‘We can confirm a report of racist abuse directed at one of our players in the match in Kiev from a small section of home supporters,’ a Chelsea spokesman said. ‘We wholeheart­edly condemn such abhorrent behaviour. We expect UEFA to conduct a (thorough) investigat­ion and we will provide full cooperatio­n.’

 ?? REX ?? All smiles: Callum Hudson-Odoi (left) joined Declan Rice in the England squad yesterday
REX All smiles: Callum Hudson-Odoi (left) joined Declan Rice in the England squad yesterday

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