According to Sky Sports, Chelsea young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to make his England debut on Monday night in Montenegro, as fellow youngster and friend Jadon Sancho looks set to miss the game through injury.
Hudson-Odoi came off the bench in the 5-0 win over the Czech Republic on Friday in the Three Lions opening Euro 2020 qualifier. The youngster made a confident start and played a hand in the fifth goal, an own goal scored by Tomas Kalas.
Starting an international before a league game
If as expected Hudson-Odoi starts in tonight’s match, it will mean that the youngster will be starting an international match before he has even started a Premier League game for Chelsea.
The 18-year-old has made 17 domestic appearances this season for the Blues. However, all six of his starts for Maurizio Sarri’s team have come in cup competitions. He has started four games in the Europa League and two in the FA Cup. All five of his goals this season have also come in cup competitions.
He has yet to find the net in his six Premier League cameos off the bench. It is a rare situation in which a player starts for his country before making a league appearance.
One of the most exciting young players in Europe
Callum Hudson-Odoi is viewed as one of the most exciting young players in the Europe game. There has been a buzz about the youngster for a long time now and we are finally getting to see what all the fuss was about.
The winger looks fearless. The youngster is the sort of player that is no scared to take on his man, no matter who that man may be. He is not just a player with fancy footwork either. His five goals and two assists in the Europa League and FA Cup show that he has an end product too.
One thing that is important is that he keeps the right attitude. The winger is desperate to play more regularly for Chelsea, which is why he is stalling on extending his contract beyond the summer of 2020.
Reportedly, the youngster is wanting assurances that he will start more games next season, which at his age is asking a lot. However, it shows that he believes in himself enough to think that he should be playing. Hopefully, that desperation to play does not turn into arrogance, rather than just being confident in his own ability.
Looks to have a bright future
Tonight’s potential first start for England against Montenegro, a game the Three Lions are favourites to win, is likely to be just the start for the winger.
The 18-year-old’s future at Chelsea is in doubt. Reportedly, German giants Bayern Munich saw a massive bid rejected by the Blues for the winger in the January transfer window. Bundesliga rivals Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also believed to be monitoring the youngster’s situation at Stamford Bridge.
Whether Hudson-Odoi stays at Chelsea and nails down a starting spot or he makes a big summer move, the winger certainly looks to have a bright future in the game.
Will Callum Hudson-Odoi still be at Chelsea next season?
