Conte: Youngster Hudson-Odoi not ready yet
Antonio Conte says exciting striker Callum Hudson-Odoi is not quite ready to step up to senior level.
The 17-year-old has been prolific for Chelsea at youth and Under-23 levels – he scored a hat-trick for the Under-23s against Sunderland at the weekend.
Hudson-Odoi has recently been part of the first-team squad, but Blues boss Conte has indicated that the youngster will not be involved in Wednesday’s FA Cup third-round replay against Norwich City.
“I think we are talking about a player with good potential. I think he needs another step before having this chance to play a game with us,” said Conte.
“For sure, this is a player who is very interesting for us. We have to continue to work with him to try to improve and have another step – to be ready to face this type of game.”
Conte also indicated that Michy Batshuayi will feature against Norwich despite reports the striker is on the verge of a loan move to Sevilla.
And teenager Ethan Ampadu, who has impressed for the first team this season, is likely to be given another chance to show what he can do.
Conte said: “Probably Ampadu will play tomorrow, but because he has shown he deserves this chance – he has kept his level.
“Young players have to deserve this opportunity and to show me, when I give them this opportunity, they didn’t make a mistake.
“I think young players have to deserve this chance, not just because these players are from the academy. I want to be clear: for this reason, Ethan Ampadu has deserved to have this chance.”
Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas are nursing slight injuries and are not expected to be involved against Norwich, while recent signing Ross Barkley is ineligible as his transfer from Everton was not registered in time.
Barkley is set to feature in a friendly against QPR’s development side on Thursday.
