...and it’s two for Giroud in Blues cruise

Chelsea 4 PAOK Salonika 0

CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI showed what all the fuss was about, at home and abroad, as Chelsea sealed the top spot in Group L.

The clamour for the twinkletoed winger’s inclusion in Maurizio Sarri’s side had been growing among supporters.

Bayern Munich and Juventus are among clubs circling and hoping to take advantage of his lack of playing time and reluctance to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

The reason for both was clear to see as the teenager dazzled against 10-man PAOK Salonika on his first competitive start.

The England under-17 World Cup winner marked the occasion with a goal and an assist to cap his night to remember as the Blues strolled to victory.

The 18-year-old’s display took some of the limelight from Olivier Giroud, whose two goals took his tally to four in his last three appearances for games.

And with Cesc Fabregas also impressing, this was a very satisfying night all round for Sarri and another reason to smile a day after the Blues boss had raised eyebrows with his assessment of N’Golo Kante.

Fabregas helped set up the first three goals, pulled the strings with his passing from deep, and underlined why Sarri listed him and Jorginho as perfect central midfield fits for his philosophy rather than Kante, a workaholic not a dictator of play.

Sarri changed all 10 outfield players from Saturday’s display to forget against Spurs and tasked his newlook side with providing a response.

That became much easier in the seventh minute when defender Yevhen Khacheridi was sent off for bringing down Giroud when he pounced on a poor pass on the edge of the box.

But Chelsea had to wait until the 27th minute before Giroud bent in the opener after Pedro had brilliantly brought down Fabregas’s pass to tee up the Frenchman.

Fabregas was dictating play while Ruben Loftus-Cheek, as impressive technically as he is physically, was helping dominate midfield. Chelsea’s trust in rookie Hudson-Odoi (left) was clear too.

His team-mates repeatedly gave him the ball knowing he was capable of posing the Greek visitors serious problems and when he hit the bar just after Giroud’s opener, it was this third attempt of the night.

The second goal was the work of two players at the other end of the age scale. Fabregas spotted Giroud’s run, picked him out with a delicious ball over the top and the Frenchman blasted a first-time volley into the net.

After the break it was just about how many Chelsea would score. Hudson-Odoi opened his account for the club, becoming the youngest Europa League scorer since 2009, when he cut in from the left fired and bent in an effort into the bottom corner.

Sub Alvaro Morata made it four with a thumping header from Hudson-Odoi’s cross.

CHELSEA: PAOK: REFEREE: