CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI is finally on the Chelsea comeback trail — and hopes to be in action by the start of next month.
The winger, 19, has targeted the away match at West Ham on April 5 for his return, but he is taking his recovery from a nagging hamstring injury carefully.
Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi hopes to make his return from injury against West Ham on April 5Credit: Getty
The England man aggravated the problem last week but is planning to resume training within the next seven days and step it up during the international break.
Hudson-Odoi has not played since Chelsea’s 2-2 draw at Leicester on February 1. The hamstring injury has dogged him for a large chunk of the season.
It comes after he tore his Achilles in April and missed the rest of last season and the beginning of this campaign.
Hudson-Odoi’s big pal Billy Gilmour will have to wait for his Scotland debut, despite a stellar start to his Chelsea career.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke, a former Blues defender, has decided to keep the midfielder, 18, in Scott Gemmill’s Under-21 squad for the time being.
Gilmour has won rave reviews for his performances in the Chelsea first team over the past week.
He impressed enough against Liverpool in the FA Cup to earn his first Premier League start on Sunday against Everton — and helped inspire a 4-0 triumph.
Scotland face Israel in a Euro 2020 play-off on March 26, while the Under-21s have a European qualifier against Croatia the next day.
Gemmill said: “I spoke to Steve and right now he is happy for Billy to be selected for the Under-21s.
“But, as is the same for all the players, at any moment that can change.
“The last time we played Steve called and took Ryan Porteous. It’s the same for all the players, it can happen to them at any time.
“We have a big responsibility to make that happen for them.”
Gilmour won the man-of-the-match award in the 2-0 win over Liverpool and has 12 caps for the Under-21s.
Scotland performance director Malky Mackay said: “I know we have a youngster who will become the player of the next generation for Scotland.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
