Bayern Munich interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi won’t influence Frank Lampard’s handling of Chelsea star

Frank Lampard insists he will not be pressured into giving more game-time to Callum Hudson-Odoi – despite ongoing interest from Bayern Munich.

The Chelsea winger has been pushed down the pecking order by the arrival of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz and failed to even make the squad for Sunday’s top of the table clash with Tottenham.

He was convinced to reject the advances of Bayern in February when signing five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, but that has not been enough to see him establish himself as a first team regular.

Bayern are continuing monitor his situation – but Lampard is adamant the risk of driving Hudson-Odoi towards the German giants does not concern him.

Ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Sevilla – which could see 20-year-old return to the starting XI, the Chelsea manager said: “I have to leave out four or five players per game. If I speak about all the permutations of all of them and considered the risk of it then I wouldn't be able to make a decision or do the job.

“I am aware of Callum and where he is at.

“He will get his opportunities. He will get minutes tomorrow. It is up to him then to show when he plays that he deserves to start because there is competition in that area. That's the reality of playing for Chelsea.

“I am not worried about the noise around it or the permutations of what not being in the squad will be down the line.

“I have to be straight and honest with them at the point to try and keep them positive and working in the right direction. Hopefully with Callum, I have got that.”

Hudson-Odoi has scored in each of his last two starts, against Krasnodar and Rennes.

But he has made only one start in the Premier League, against Crystal Palace at the start of October.

Lampard admits it was difficult to inform him he would miss out against Tottenham – particularly after such an impressive performance days earlier in Rennes.

“He took it very well and it is not an easy conversation to have because all players want to play, I expect that,” he said. “I have been pleased about his training recently. His training and attitude at the minute is bang on.

“That work ethic in training is affecting him scoring against Rennes and playing well, coming on against Newcastle and he was bright after going away with the Under-21s and doing well.

“It was tough. I have tough decisions when I have a fully fit squad as we pretty much do now to leave players that work hard through the week and are desperate to play for the club, to leave them out.

“I did speak to him personally. I want him to understand where he is at the minute which is in a progression that's getting better. There will be times where others players have to sit out and that's a conversation we have to have with other players.

“He is in contention for tomorrow and I want to see more of the same and keep that progression going. Like I say, if there are times where he is out of the squad, I want him to stay positive. That's part of my job as well to have that communication level.”

Lampard believes the hype built up around Hudson-Odoi at such a young age needs to be managed.

“I think Callum's early career, he got into the team with a lot of talk around him in the year before I came,” he added. “Then he got a really bad injury and a big part of last season, even this season, he was feeling the injury a little bit. I think now time and work is showing he's back with recent form to where we want him to be.

“At the same time, he is still a developing player because when there's a lot of talk about a player then you think they have been around longer than they have.

“He is still a young man so unfortunately for him, I have to see the bigger picture. It is unfortunate he is not part of the squad but there's hundreds of games ahead of him and progression to make.

“He will have a big impact with his talent, as long as he has that hard work, which he is showing at the minute. In the short term, he might not like it but then I have to look at who else I take out of the squad.”

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