CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI has hired a personal trainer at his own expense to try to force his way into Frank Lampard’s plans.
The Chelsea boss has made repeated demands for the winger to show him the kind of ‘work ethic’ that will see him regain a regular first team spot.
And Hudson-Odoi has taken his manager at his word and is spending £1,500 a month with his own specialised fitness guru.
The winger is also coughing up to rent the entire pitch at a non-league club near his South London home.
Hudson-Odoi, 19, is lifting extra weights, being put through his paces with sprint shuttle runs and working on endurance to boost his stamina to last 90 minutes with ease.
The sessions are all being undertaken in addition to normal training with Chelsea.
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They were four times weekly before the season started but are now being whittled down to twice a week to fit in around matches.
Hudson-Odoi has started two of Chelsea’s last three matches and scored once – when he came on as a half-time sub to help rescue his team from 3-0 down at West Brom to grab a draw.
He also played the full 90 minutes of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham which went to penalties.
Chelsea academy graduate Hudson-Odoi faces extra competition for his place this season following the big money signings of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
He has been linked with European champions Bayern Munich in recent seasons.
And the German giants have been sniffing around him again recently.
But the player is determined to prove to Lampard that he can handle it in the Premier League.
