Callum Hudson-Odoi: 'Nerve problem left me unable to pass ten yards'

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has opened up on the 'weird' injury that sidelined him for more than a third of the 2021/22 season.

Having been given a decent number of opportunities in the first part of the season, Hudson-Odoi picked up what was described as an Achilles injury in March and subsequently missed the rest of the campaign as he struggled to recover.

However, the 21-year-old has revealed that while it started with his Achilles, the issue became much more severe.

Speaking to Chelsea's official website, Hudson-Odoi said: "It was a weird one. It was a neurological thing where I had a tweaked nerve in my back and it stemmed all the way down through my body, so it then became difficult for me to retain muscle. There was no power really in my legs and everything was like ‘woah’. I was trying to pass the ball ten yards but I had no power and I couldn’t even do it.

"I think it was also a post-coronavirus thing from December, which I couldn’t believe because it had been such a long time before. The issue started with my Achilles and then I was trying to use other parts of my body to make up for it, so for example when I was running I wasn’t running on my toes as much because my Achilles power wasn’t that strong."

He continued: "I was trying to find another way to run and then it started affecting my back but all of it is good now. My Achilles is strong again and my back is strong so everything is perfect. It’s one of those things but I’m glad to be back and to have all my power, strength and speed back is all that I can wish for."

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Alongside fellow long-term absentee Ben Chilwell, the England internationalreturned from his holidays early and is said to have been working tirelessly in his bid to regain full fitness.

The Chelsea academy graduate added: "The whole summer I’ve just been trying to build on my strength and my fitness, just focusing on me getting back to being myself really.

"I’ve been here for the past five out of six weeks with just a one-week break and it’s good to know I've started early to be as fit as possible before the boys came back. I’m definitely feeling much stronger. There’s a new trim for me as well, a new style for a new season.

"My main goal this summer and throughout the season is to be stronger. There were times in the season last year when I was running with the ball and feeling like I could get barged off it or I’m not as strong as I thought I was.

"I’ve been putting more muscle on in training to make sure I’m getting bigger so when the opponents come, I know that I’m strong enough to hold them off, or that I won’t get barged and I can barge them instead."