MX23RW : Friday, November 8 07:29:16| >> :120:31274:31274:

Aidy Boothroyd understands he has Callum Hudson-Odoi for "rehab" reasons

The 18-year-old has just returned to action after a serious Achilles injury.

England Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd accepts that Callum Hudson-Odoi is in his squad as "part of his rehab".

The 18-year-old has just returned to action after a serious Achilles injury and has been included in Boothroyd's Young Lions group for Friday's friendly against Slovenia and Monday's EURO qualifier against Austria.

He has hit the ground running for Chelsea, scoring one goal and making three more in his four appearances, but was not deemed ready for Gareth Southgate's main squad.

Aidy Boothroyd
Aidy Boothroyd is glad to have the use of Callum Hudson-Odoi (Martin Rickett/PA)

Boothroyd is delighted to finally get his hands on the teenager following his swift call-up to the senior squad last time he was with the Under-21s.

"Callum has done very well. He's only at the start of his career and had a difficult injury," Boothroyd said.

"We're almost part of his rehab really, to get him back to that place where he can challenge for a senior place.

"We only had him for about half an hour last time. He was having his dinner and before he'd finished the starter we had to send him back up to Gareth.

"It was nice to spend a few more hours with him. I think we're all right this time."

Hudson-Odoi is one of several young players impressing in Frank Lampard's side this season as a result of their transfer ban.

Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount are in the senior squad and Boothroyd believes Premier League teams might start differently about using younger players as a result of Chelsea's situation.

"It's terrific. It's what we've always wanted really," he said.

"Through what's happened at Chelsea and seeing the emergence of these players, it might seem a surprise to some, but when you work with them, I think all that is needed is for youngsters to get an opportunity.

"For too long we've had players who've reached a ceiling in development that they can't get through because they don't get the chance.

Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard has had to use his stable of talented English youngsters (John Walton/PA)

"What's happened at Chelsea is a great example of a team having to use young players and actually, they're not bad.

"What I will say is that it's certainly made people think differently, there's been a shift, because people are doing so well, the top scorer in the Premier League is an Englishman- and it's not Harry Kane, it's Tammy Abraham, a young player, 21 years old who's taken the chance he's been given."

Boothroyd will be unable to call on Morgan Gibbs-White, Mason Greenwood and Reiss Nelson after they all withdrew.

Gibbs-White and Greenwood are suffering from back injuries and Nelson has a knee injury.

They were replaced by Sam Surridge and Ben Wilmot in the squad.

ID:374362: cacheID:374362:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7644:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gary Neville pictured on October 20, 2017
Read Next:
Neville backs Liverpool to win title
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!