For Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, Saturday may certainly have become the greatest day of his life. The academy graduate came full circle as he finally scored his first career Premier League goal in a 3-0 win over Burnley, tapping in a cross to put the final nail in the coffin for the game.
For a youngster so talented, it has taken longer than wanted, and expected for that matter, for him to find the back of the net in the league. But it’s about time he did. For him and Chelsea, this could kick off his post-injury career, hopefully reaching his pre-injury potential.
Chelsea Breakthrough
Hudson-Odoi made his first-team debut for the Blues in the 2017/18 season but didn’t appear regularly on the bench or pitch until the 2018/19 season under then-manager Maurizio Sarri.
Hudson-Odoi got his chances mainly in that season’s Europa League and took full advantage of them. He scored four goals and assisted another two in Chelsea’s triumph making him at minimum a squad player.
When he did get chances in the Premier League, his impact didn’t go unnoticed. Although he didn’t contribute in the goals and assists department, he added a dynamic element to the team. He got in behind defenders. Crosses from the right became a threat. And most importantly, he made the team better overall.
Still, he couldn’t quite breakthrough as a regular starter. Instead, he was one of the 13 or 14 players used regularly in the squad.
Throughout the season, the hype gained steamed with every performance. At one point, it was even nearly impossible to say with a straight face he didn’t deserve to start. Somehow, he remained a reserve.
Eventually, he understandably put in a transfer request with Bayern Munich keen on signing him. Even though he submitted the transfer request a year ago, some fans will never forgive him for, in their minds, the treasonous act of wanting to leave for further development.
In the end, the transfer request never went through and he unhappily stayed at Stamford Bridge for the remainder of last season.
Then? It all came crashing down.
Achilles Injury
Against Burnley in April 2019, Hudson-Odoi went crashing to the ground towards the end of the first half. Immediately, it looked like a serious injury that could sideline him for months.
Soon after the injury, Hudson-Odoi was ruled out for several months with a ruptured achilles tendon, putting a halt on his development and career. The injury was so bad it even raised the question of whether he would be able to ever recover. From April until September, Hudson-Odoi rehabbed, hoping to get back on the pitch in no time.
Hot And Cold Return
In September, the beginning of this season, he found himself ready for a few reserve games to test out his achilles. He then quickly, he made his way back to the first team and debuted this season in the League Cup against Grimsby Town.
After scoring against Grimsby Town, he assisted in four straight games between the Champions League and Premier League. What a comeback! Five games played with a goal and four assists? That’s a great run for someone in peak form let alone returning from an injury.
Because of his initial return, manager Frank Lampard expected him to become a regular contributor. However, his influence started to wain soon after. Between an October 19th win over Newcastle United and the FA Cup win against Nottingham Forest in the first week of January, he failed to score or assist.
Two and a half months without a goal or assist? Not the recipe for a starting role let alone a new contract. According to Who Scored, Hudson-Odoi put in only one performance above a rating of 6.5 in the Premier League during that dry spell; a 20-minute substitution appearance in a loss to West Ham.
An adrenaline-pumping return following a long injury layoff restored the hype before Hudson-Odoi cooled off like he jumped from sauna to ice bath.
At times, he looked lost. Sometimes it looked as though he was holding back, not sure if his leg could take the punishment necessary to unleash himself in the rough and tumble Premier League. Or quite possibly he wasn’t fully fit.
Yet, Lampard has kept his faith in him. Out of 17 games between his assist against Newcastle and goal against Nottingham Forest, he’s started or subbed on in 14, undoubtedly keeping him in good spirits. Or at least in as good of spirits as possible.
Then, against Burnley Saturday, everything got that much better.
Full Circle
Against the team in which he ruptured his achilles last April, Hudson-Odoi started for the first time in the league since Boxing Day and put in one of his best performances of the season. His runs, his passing, and his link play with Reece James at right-back was absolutely phenomenal.
To top off his fantastic performance, a 49th-minute cross came into the box just over Tammy Abraham‘s head at the penalty spot and flew straight to Hudson-Odoi. And of course, he wasn’t going to miss.
Crashing into the keeper’s box towards the back post, he slid and tapped in the cross to notch his first career Premier League goal. To celebrate, he sprinted for the corner flag with his teammates just behind and ready to maul him.
From rupturing his achilles in April against Burnley to nine months later scoring his first league goal against the same team at the same stadium speaks volumes of his character. Dealing with the disappointment of riding the bench, coming back from injury, and overcoming the adversity of struggling for an extended period of time?
Hudson-Odoi has come full circle in his Chelsea career now, especially the last few months. He ran the gamut at Stamford Bridge in recent months and will most likely be better off for it.
Scoring against fourth-tier Grimsby Town and second-tier Nottingham Forest is one thing. Scoring in the Premier League, though? That’s the pinnacle, which his injury took him far from. Thanks to scoring against Burnley, he’s back on his way to his pre-injury best.
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