Blues manager Frank Lampard has suggested that Chelsea might be asking too much of young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi but vowed to stick with the 19-year-old and protect him against any criticism.
The England playmaker sparkled in his early senior appearances for the west London giants but has struggled to make any impact of late, failing to impress as he started a Premier League game for the first time in over two months in a 2-0 Boxing Day defeat against Southampton at Stamford Bridge.
Hudson Odoi returned from an injury that kept him out of action for over two months and his return was hyped up by the Chelsea faithful as they were eager for results from the talented teenager. However, despite showing skill and trickery with the ball at his feet, the Englishman is unable to convert that into his final product and add goals neither assists to his name.
Although Lampard acknowledged Hudson-Odoi is yet to find the consistency required to become a regular first-team member at Chelsea, he is determined to stay patient with the midfield gem.
Ahead of the trip to the Amex Stadium, the 41-year-old Lampard admitted that maybe the Chelsea fans are asking too much from the youngster at such a tender age, “Maybe [it is about consistency], and maybe we’re asking too much, Because, at 19, there’s not many in the Premier League that are playing every week, especially at a club like ourselves. He has competition in those areas, so his consistency needs to be in how he works, how he trains every day, how much pressure he puts on me to play him. That is one thing he’ll strive for.”
