W/Cup qualifiers: You’ve missed an opportunity – Southgate reacts as Hudson-Odoi turns down England call-up

Chelsea winger, Callum Hudson-Odoi has rejected call-up to the England Under-21 national team.

The 20-year-old Chelsea star has been in excellent form for Thomas Tuchel’s side in recent weeks.

But his recent performance for the west London side could not secure a place in the Gareth Southgate’s England senior squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino.

Hudson-Odoi, who is still eligible to represent Ghana rejected the chance to play for the Under-21 side.

This did not go down well with Southgate, who believes that the player has missed an opportunity by turning down the call-up.

Southgate has revealed that the winger is keen to force his way into the senior squad by impressing at Chelsea.

“…So by not being in the Under-21s he[Callum]misses a bit of an opportunity to impress us and come across if we need players for training and those sort of things.

“He has had a couple of good matches for Chelsea. I know Thomas [Tuchel] is guarded about how much he goes with praise on that but it is good to see him back playing and playing more regularly at first-team level and he knows the challenge that’s ahead.

“But he knows also that we are constantly watching him and he is young and talented enough to mount a serious challenge as we move forward.”