Chelsea team news: Callum Hudson-Odoi ‘not far off’ from first team return, says Frank Lampard

The winger suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon back in April

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea (Getty Images)

Callum Hudson-Odoi appears to be back in the first team picture at Chelsea, after Frank Lampard admitted that the winger is “not far off” making his comeback from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered in April.

“Callum is not far off but we have to be careful because it was a major injury,” he said. “What we’ve done is actually get him back ahead of time but we have to make sure the strength is right in the area because it could lead to other injuries if we go too quickly.”

Lampard acknowledged that the early return of Hudson-Odoi has come at a useful time for the Blues, who play six games after in the next twenty days before the second international break of the season.

“We certainly have to manage the squad over the next three or four weeks until the next international break.

“We have the Carabao Cup coming up next midweek and that may give us opportunities to look at players who’ve been injured or some different options.

“In between that time, if Callum shows this week with how good he is in training, then I’ll have to consider him from now on,” Lampard admitted.

The England international has been training with the first team for over a week, and played 61 minutes, registered one assist, for Chelsea’s development squad last Friday against Brighton.

Hudson-Odoi was joined by Reece James in that match, with the defender playing 45 minutes as he recovers from ankle ligament damage suffered in June. N'Golo Kante also appears close to a return, with Lampard noting that he and James are “starting to knock on the door” ahead of Chelsea's busy period.