Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is being put through his paces in ‘brutal’ solo training sessions at their Cobham base in a bid to return to fitness for the start of pre-season, according to reports.
Hudson-Odoi has not featured for the Blues since March 2, when Chelsea edged Luton Town 3-2 in an FA Cup tie at Kenilworth Road. He played just 62 minutes that day and has struggled with an Achilles problem in recent years.
But now the England international is nearing a return to full fitness and has undergone intense training sessions by himself in a bid to make the club’s pre-season tour of the United States next month, as reported by the Sun.
Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi has reportedly been working hard in solo sessions to return to fitness next season
The England international has been struggling with an Achilles problem over the last few years
The 21-year-old has been battling his Achilles injury over the last three years and is believed to have suffered repeated set-backs in his rehabilitation to full fitness.
And the player has now given up on the chance of a summer holiday in order to put his full focus on getting fit again for Chelsea, the report continues.
Chelsea’s Cobham training ground is ‘largely deserted’ with the first team not expected back until next month, but Hudson-Odoi has been grinding hard to ensure he can put his injury woes behind him and start next season strongly.
Chelsea will play in Las Vegas, North Carolina and Florida on their US tour in July, playing Club America, Charlotte and London rivals Arsenal – who they will take on in Orlando.
He is hoping to make Chelsea’s tour of the USA next month, where they will face Arsenal
Hudson-Odoi has been with Chelsea since the age of six and has gone on to play 126 times for the first team, scoring 16 times.
In April it was reported Hudson-Odoi was considering switching his international allegiance from England to Ghana ahead of the Qatar World Cup this year.
He has picked up three senior caps for England since making his debut against the Czech Republic, later playing against Montenegro and Kosovo in the European Championship qualifying campaign.
Under FIFA rules, players are allowed switch allegiances providing they had played no more than three competitive international games before the age of 21.
This means Hudson-Odoi would be eligible for the changeover just in time to head to Qatar with the World Cup taking place between November 21 and December 18.