CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI has been promised he still has a place with the England senior team – despite turning down the U21s.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel warned Hudson-Odoi would have to “deal with the consequences” after snubbing a spot in Lee Carsley’s current squad.
Hudson-Odoi, 20, has made three appearances for boss Gareth Southgate with the seniors but the last was against Kosovo in November 2019.
He also has an option of playing for Ghana as, under Fifa rules introduced in 2020, having played no more than three caps, a player can switch to another nation he is eligible for.
England boss Southgate said: “We are tracking Callum, he’s a player we know can be a top player and he’s still so young. He’s part of that 2000 age group who still have huge possibilities ahead of them.
“The club form often dictates some of those opportunities and he had a really bad injury of course, which put him out of the running for a long period of time.
“I think Callum was in the team at Chelsea at a time when we felt he was pushing for a place in our squad.
“It’s always difficult for a young player when you’ve been with the seniors and then you’re not with the seniors to make that climb back, but that’s the challenge for him.
BETTING SPECIAL – GET 30/1 ON STERLING TO SCORE OR ASSIST vs POLAND
“At his club at the moment it looks as though he’s going to play in certain matches as a wing-back and it’s going to be more challenging to get in that front three at Chelsea now that Lukaku is there as well.
“So I think the U21s can be an important part of his development.”
After snubbing England, surprised Chelsea boss Tuchel said: “It’s his personal decision and nothing to do with my opinion or the club’s.
“If I speculate a little bit I think it’s about disappointment that he is not nominated for the first team but, at the same time, maybe [he] did not have enough minutes to be nominated for the first team.
“Personally, I could see the upgrade in having some minutes and being in a leading role for the U21s but he decided differently, so he will deal with the consequences.”
Read our Transfer news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/football/premier-league/man-utd-can-field-two-quality-xis-after-cristiano-ronaldo-and-jadon-sancho-transfer-but-still-no-room-for-van-de-beek
