Callum Hudson-Odoi feels he is almost back at the beginning of his career.
The winger’s mindset now, as then, is going into every game feeling he can score or assist, being part of the conversation around the England senior team, and once again trying to impress Thomas Tuchel.
Now 24, the three-cap England international has been a key part of a Nottingham Forest side that has maintained their Premier League form to close in on Champions League qualification. Forest also face a trip to Brighton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Six years ago, Hudson-Odoi was one of the most exciting prospects in English football. He had been the Chelsea academy golden boy, with the club knocking back bids to sign him in the January 2019 transfer window from Bayern Munich.
He made his England debut under Gareth Southgate in March, coming on as a substitute in a 5-0 win over the Czech Republic in a Euro 2020 qualifier. He was 18 and became the youngest to play for England in a competitive international match, breaking Duncan Edwards’ 64-year-old record.
But in April 2019, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in a match against Burnley. The tendon completely detached from the bone and his seven months out of the game was followed by further setbacks.
“I had been playing games week in, week out, got my first call up for England and I step off and boom, everything collapses,” he told BBC Sport. “It was tough, it was very tough.
“At the time, I was just thinking am I going to be the same player I was? Will I be able to sprint or kick a ball again?”
Maurizio Sarri was Chelsea’s manager at the time of the injury, followed by Frank Lampard. But it was Tuchel who gave Hudson-Odoi his most minutes on the pitch while at Stamford Bridge.
However, it was not all straightforward. Tuchel, now the England manager, gave him a dose of “tough love”.
In a 1-1 draw with Southampton in February 2021, Hudson-Odoi came on at half-time but was then substituted off 31 minutes later, with the German coach telling journalists he was “not happy with his attitude, energy and counter-pressing”.
“Maybe it is even unfair, but it was my feeling,” Tuchel said.
“I took him off. We demand 100%. I feel he is not in the right shape to help us.
“He knows what I demand from him and when he doesn’t reach this level, it’s a hard decision.”
Fast forward to this season and Hudson-Odoi’s form for Forest – he has five goals and two assists – led to speculation about him making Tuchel’s first England squad and a return to the national set-up after making his third and, so far, last appearance in November 2019 in a 4-0 win over Kosovo.
He missed out on the 26-man squad but speaking before the international break about playing under Tuchel, he said: “We had our differences at times and that is normal. Every player and coach has their differences.
“Like [when Tuchel had me] playing wing-back and I am like why am I here?
“But it was to benefit the team and it benefits myself, helping me work on my defensive game.
“It’s good that we had that moment and we have talked about it. He is an amazing manager and he knows how to get the best out of players.
“If the possibility and chance [for England] comes – I will have to go there and prove myself all over again.
“I just control what I can control. It’s about enjoying my football once again, smiling and being positive.”
Hudson-Odoi says he is “more mature” having lived through so much since making his professional debut at the age of 17.
He insists, though, his motivation about returning to the level which made him the most coveted youngster in the country, comes from within.
“I don’t want to prove anything to anybody,” he said. “It is about proving to myself that I can still be that player I was – to go back to a level where I knew I was going to score or assist – and be that confident where I know I am going to impact in every game.”
Hudson-Odoi is also dreaming of success under Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
“This season everything has just changed – from mentality to determination,” he said.
“It’s just a big drive from us and we are trying to push each other every day. We know we have the ability to do this.
“We know where we are but we have to keep dreaming and believing that as a team.”
