Frank Lampard says he expects all his players to want to play as much as they can following suggestions Callum Hudson-Odoi may consider leaving Chelsea due to frustrations about his lack of game time.
And Lampard insists he wants Hudson-Odoi to realise his huge potential at Chelsea.
England winger Hudson-Odoi has played just 48 minutes for Chelsea since the season’s resumption, spread across four substitute appearances.
Sources close to the winger have played down talk that Hudson-Odoi, who signed a five-year contract last September following strong interest from Bayern Munich, is unhappy at the Bridge.
Though the competition for attacking places will increase once Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner arrive in the summer.
Chelsea are also looking to further bolster their options by signing German rising star Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen and Willian’s future has also not yet been resolved.
Should all Chelsea’s summer transfer plans come off, Hudson-Odoi would potentially be one of a few players wondering how they will fit in to Lampard’s plans.
But Lampard praised Hudson-Odoi’s ‘great talent’ and spoke of his hopes that that will continue to be seen at Chelsea.
Asked if he sensed any frustration on Hudson-Odoi’s part, Lampard said: ‘No but I’d expect all my players to want to play as much as they can, so only as much as I’d expect from anyone else.
‘I have a squad to pick. I pick a lot on how players train, daily and what they can give us and, either when they start or come on, what they can give us. So it’s the same as every other player.
‘I spoke about Callum a lot. He needs to keep training at the highest level which is actually what I’ve seen him doing.
‘Particularly in the last week, ten days and in the two games he’s come on he’s had good impacts in the last two performances and that’s the way he needs to continue.
‘He’s a young player with great talent, great potential and I want to see that potential come through.’
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