Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has set his sights on making the England squad for the 2021 European Championships having recovered from coronavirus.
The tournament was set to take place this summer, but has been pushed back a year due to the pandemic taking hold in Europe. Indeed, the disease affected Hudson-Odoi himself who revealed he had tested positive on 13 March.
The attacker has been sidelined since the winter break at the start of February with a hamstring injury before the virus hit, but due to the postponement of Euro 2020, he will not be forced to rush himself back to ensure that he is contention for a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad.
Speaking to Chelsea TV, the 19-year-old said:
"The Euros is a massive thing and I have big belief in myself and hopefully I will be able to get into the team.
"I just want to make sure that I keep pushing myself every game and every minute and making sure that I keep trying to score goals and make assists and keep trying to help the team as much as possible to get what we want, which is a trophy at the end of the day."
England manager Gareth Southgate has a history of putting faith in Hudson-Odoi. He handed him his England debut in March 2019, despite the winger having not yet started a Premier League game for Chelsea.
In doing so, he became the youngest ever player to make his competitive debut for the Three Lions.
This was in stark contrast to former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who severely restricted his playing time. Hudson-Odoi was one of the many youngsters to benefit from the appointment of Frank Lampard, and he featured 17 times in the Premier League prior to its suspension.
Chelsea became the Premier League first team placed in self-isolation after Hudson-Odoi contracted coronavirus. The winger confirmed that he has now fully recovered.
"I am feeling perfect,’ Hudson-Odoi added. "I had the virus which has cleared now. I fully feel good, I feel fit, so I am feeling back to myself.
"Everything is happening so fast and I did not know this virus would be such a major thing and so big in the world and affect so many people.
"Everyone has to be careful and judge things how they go and hopefully the virus will go soon and everyone will be back to normal."
Source : 90min