Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes manager Maurizio Sarri may have been biding his time to unleash Callum Hudson-Odoi on the first-team.

The Italian has been criticised for not starting the 18-year-old in the Premier League, but Nevin thinks the teenager will be fresh to take a more prominent role in the closing weeks of the season:

“Callum Hudson-Odoi will arguably be buzzing even more by getting his first England cap and looking perfectly comfortable on that stage at such an incredibly young age.”

“It is no longer a question of if but when with regards to his impact for Chelsea in the Premier League. The great thing for him is that he will not be jaded at this time of the season.”

“Others have had a long, hard slog, many with precious little rest from last season because of the World Cup. But Callum is as fresh as you could hope for and clearly straining like a held-back mustang ready to fly off the reins.”

“Chelsea fans have been calling for a long time for our young flying winger, but coaches believe they know exactly when the time is right for the biggest impact. If the boss gets it right it will be seen as a masterstroke.”

Whether Sarri has been holding him back to keep him fresh, it remains to be seen. The Blues boss has previously said that Hudson-Odoi is not yet ready for regular first team football.

However, his performance for England against Montenegro on Monday night will place added pressure on him to play the youngster.

Sarri has relied on Pedro, Willian and Eden Hazard to play in wide areas during the most important matches this campaign, and it will be interesting to see if he does sacrifice one of them to make room for Hudson-Odoi in upcoming games.