Watch: Callum Hudson-Odoi Hands Chelsea Boost After Early Pre-Season Return

Callum Hudson-Odoi stepped up his pre-season preparations ahead of the new season after returning to Chelsea’s Cobham training centre for training early, in line with Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the winger.

The 21-year-old featured in just 28 games during the 2021/22 season, scoring three and assisting six, but missed a large chunk in the second half of the campaign due to injury. 

His last Premier League game came on 23 January against Tottenham after a run of six consecutive league appearances.

Hudson-Odoi was struggling with an Achilles injury and despite being expected to feature for Chelsea before the end of last season, his time on the sidelines continued. 

Tuchel confirmed the plan for Hudson-Odoi last month, with the winger and Ben Chilwell having personal programmes before the rest of the squad made their way back to Cobham.

“Dropped out of the squad from one day to the other more or less," Tuchel said back in May on Hudson-Odoi’s absence. 

"Still in individual training, progressing but not in team training. 

"He will come early in pre-season like (Ben) Chilwell to start a programme to be back on 2 July with team training.”

The plan which was put in place for Hudson-Odoi is being followed.

He posted on Instagram of him in training, a couple days after Chilwell was involved at Cobham.

The Chelsea squad will begin to return for duty next month on 2 July, while players who featured for their countries earlier this month will be given up to a week extra off.

Tuchel and his squad will have a couple of weeks in England before jetting off to the United States for their pre-season tour where they will face Club America, Charlotte FC and Arsenal in a week-long tour starting on 16 July in Las Vegas.

Hudson-Odoi could have more competition in his wide attacking role next season, with the Blues linked with moves for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling and Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele.

Timo Werner could be offloaded to Juventus as part of the deal to bring Matthijs de Ligt to Stamford Bridge, while Hakim Ziyech has reportedly handed in a transfer request amid interest from AC Milan.

Hudson-Odoi will be hoping to stay injury free next season and has been reported to have had 'barely any time off this summer, working tirelessly to get back to full fitness' in a bid to impress Tuchel.

The work has already begun for Hudson-Odoi. It's already started for Todd Boehly and the new ownership and Tuchel will be eager to have Hudson-Odoi and some new signings through the door upon his return to Cobham.