KAI HAVERTZ, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount are being urged to rack up goals for Chelsea following injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.
Peter Crouch and Paul Scholes believe the trio could play a major role in leading the Blues’ attack with their team-mates set for a spell on the treatment table.
Havertz, 22, came off the bench 23 minutes into Chelsea’s 4-0 drubbing of Malmo in their Group H Champions League game with Lukaku forced off with a twisted ankle.
The German forward, who has featured just once in Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI in the contest this term, impressed by netting the Blues’ fourth goal of the evening.
And Crouch and Scholes reckon the German ace and his team-mates could be key to filling in up top in Lukaku and Werner’s absence with a clash with rock bottom Norwich next.
After the match, Crouch, 40, told BT Sport: “They’ve got good strength in depth Chelsea.
“There are players like Havertz and Hudson Odoi who have to step up.
“Him (Havertz) and Hudson-Odoi combined really, really well (against Malmo).
“Werner pulled up (with an injury) with no one near him (on the pitch) and it looks like a hamstring (injury). So those players are going to have to step up.”
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Scholes, 46, added: “They have got to find goals from other areas of the team now. Havertz stepped up and we know what a good player he can be and scores goals.
“Mason Mount is the one for me. I think he is a brilliant footballer.
“He just needs to add goals to his game, and this might be the chance where he thinks, ‘I’ve just got to step up now and start winning games for my team’.”
Blues boss Tuchel confirmed Werner and Belgium ace Lukaku will miss a few games for the Prem leaders.
The Stamford Bridge chief said: “It will take a while for both of them, and we will need more examinations to be precise. They will be out for some matches.”
Lukaku, who joined the Blues for a record sum this summer, has not scored in seven games for the club after netting four goals in his first four matches.
With both forwards out of action, Crouch hopes to see Hudson-Odoi, 20, stake his claim for a starting place in Tuchel’s side by boosting his efforts in front of goal.
The winger, who has made six Blues appearances across all competitions this term, is yet to score this season.
Crouch added: “Hudson-Odoi has not really kicked on, but he’s definitely looking better.
“But Havertz looks like a real player. He just needs a consistent run in the team.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
