Sport
Can Callum Hudson-Odoi emulate the success of other youth players?
Jadon Sancho was a trailblazer in terms of breaking down barriers for young English talent heading abroad. Until he joined Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City, in 2017, it was a rarity. His success has changed the mindset of British youth players, proving to them there are opportunities elsewhere and that they do not simply have to become part of a major hoarding operation at major Premier League clubs.
Of course, Phil Foden and Mason Mount have proven that something key still very much remains true: the cream usually rises to the top regardless. But there is a wider net cast for players who for too long had been getting lost in the system.
That is great news for the state of the game generally and home nation first teams but it has recalibrated the balance of power for the next generation, up to a point. Sancho was assured he would follow a similar path to Foden at City by Pep Guardiola but, even at 17, he took a risk and headed to the Bundesliga. Jude Bellingham took a similar route after thriving at his hometown club Birmingham City, while former Tottenham Hotspur youngster, Noni Madueke, is forging his path at PSV Eindhoven
Chelsea were always a bit of a paradox when it came to promoting youth players. Their academy has a track record for producing streams of quality, with an FA Youth Cup record that has long been exemplary. But because of the culture of instant gratification is so deep at the top of the club, chances would be few and far between.
It has changed somewhat since a transfer ban and Frank Lampard’s spell as manager, with Mount and Reece James becoming first team regulars under him and current boss Thomas Tuchel. Tammy Abraham featured intermittently before a summer sale to Roma but there has been one player who has emerged and caused a rather consistent headache for three managers; Maurizio Sarri, Lampard and now Tuchel. That man is Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The wave of excitement over Hudson-Odoi instantly shone the spotlight on him when he broke through under Sarri. He was a teammate of the now Manchester United star in the under-17 World Cup campaign of 2017 and he quickly realised that he didn’t simply have to wait for his chance. Bayern Munich made their interest known — German clubs were making no secret of their desire to tap into English youth players — and without ever voicing it publicly, Hudson-Odoi wanted to go.
It became something of a saga and there were times when it looked as though he would be leaving Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had trouble persuading him that his development was best served with them but he eventually signed a new long-term contract.
Time has passed since then and Hudson-Odoi, who has had to watch the likes of Sancho and Foden grow into fully-fledged England regulars, has remained sidelined for much of that. Sarri always seemed desperate to keep him at arm’s length, while Lampard didn’t trust him the way he did Mount and even Abraham. Tuchel may be different, though.
There is a clear fondness towards the 20-year-old, who scored in Saturday’s 7-0 rout of the perennially struggling Norwich City. It would be a long payoff if he finally took a chance at Chelsea, but surely talking must turn to action soon. There is a watershed moment coming for both the club and Hudson-Odoi, perhaps they’re there already.
When Chelsea resisted the extremely intense talk of a Bayern move, it was widely believed he was next on the production line of successful youth players at Stamford Bridge. It hasn’t quite worked out that way due to a lot of factors, some centred around his performances. The reason he isn’t on the level of Mount or James is simple, he hasn’t been as consistent as either, nor has he earned Tuchel’s trust in the same way.
For all Lampard’s faults during his tenure, the new regime, which won the Champions League last season and have sights on the Premier League this term, have seen what he saw in those from the academy.
Hudson-Odoi has a lot of catching up to do. His path has been blocked by the likes of Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, who have all been utilised out wide by Tuchel. But a growing injury list could be the open door for him to finally kickstart his career in blue. Before Norwich, Tuchel stated that only he can decide what is next, the gauntlet was laid down and a call for consistency is to be heeded.
He made a good start with his goal but bigger tests are coming for him. There was a slightly facetious remark about him needing 250 good performances for there to be a turning point. As exaggerated as that may have been, the point stands, the next chance will not simply given to him.
Given the underlying tone of unease between Hudson-Odoi and Chelsea, stemming from his desire to be given regular minutes and their stance on keeping him grounded until he’s ready, there is a sense of now or never here. If he cannot stake a true claim in the next few weeks, he may have a decision to make and he might have to follow the example of other youth players and fly the nest.
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