Former Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas has come to the defence of Chelsea youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi after his poor form of recent has drawn criticism from fans and media alike.
The 19-year-old has struggled to hit the heights of last season but showed how good he can be with his man of the match display in the FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest.
Fabregas has hailed Hudson-Odoi and believes that he has the potential to be great.
“The first time he came to train with us I knew he was different, his finishing and pace were something else for his age,” said Fabregas in a Twitter Q&A on Tuesday.
“He has a long way to go and just came back from a terrible injury. With time and good attitude he can become a terrific player.” Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was full of praise following his performance against Nottingham Forest and has asked for patience with his development.
Speaking about Hudson-Odoi’s performance, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said: “It was a good performance: pleased to see him high up the pitch, pleased to see him being aggressive wanting to get at people, that’s what he is there for. He gets his goal, a great strike. “It’s been an interesting 12 months for him. When you consider how young he is, you have to take that into account.
“Last year everyone was talking about him for different reasons, he got a terrible injury, he came back very early. When he did come back there will still issues getting him absolutely tip-top. Then he’s in the spotlight because of his new contract and who he is.
“It was nice step forward for him today. The next challenge will be the next time he plays. Can he do that, can he do more? Can he keep sustaining that improvement?”