Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi begs close pal Jamal Musiala to remain with England after Young Lions debut
CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI is trying to convince close pal Jamal Musiala to stick with England.
Bayern Munich whizkid Musiala, 17, scored on his first England Under-21s start in Tuesday’s 5-0 thrashing of Albania at Molineux.
The Stuttgart-born winger is also eligible for Germany — playing twice for their U16s — and Nigeria.
But Germany’s head of academy coaching, Meikel Schonweitz, says he has committed his future to the Three Lions — although U21s boss Aidy Boothroyd is not sure that is set in stone.
England and Chelsea star Hudson-Odoi, 20, said: “I said he should be staying with England!
“He knows a lot of the boys already and has been really welcomed into the team. I said to him, ‘I can’t choose for you but it would be nice if you stayed with England’.
“Hopefully, he gets to the seniors as quickly as possible.”
Hudson-Odoi knows Musiala well, having attended the same private school, Whitgift in Croydon and been in the Chelsea academy together.
The Blues winger, whose brother Bradley is Musiala’s agent, was keen to help the “shy” teenager feel welcome when he linked up with the U21s for the first time this month.
Hudson-Odoi added: “Jamal is a top, top player. I wanted to welcome him to the U21s as soon as possible.
“He is a good guy, very shy, and before the Albania game I wanted to see he was feeling himself and confident — and not scared or shy.
“I said, ‘Play your own game and get a goal for yourself’, which he did. I was really happy for him. Wherever he is, I will be watching him.”
Hudson-Odoi was the stand-out performer against Albania and sparked the rout with a goal inside five minutes.
The Londoner was playing for Gareth Southgate’s senior Three Lions last November but saw his progress hindered by a bad Achilles injury.
There was talk of him leaving to join Musiala at Bayern — but stayed at Blues.
He said: “It has been a rollercoaster.
“I want to make sure I am working my hardest, trying to get in the team and working my way back to the senior team in the England set-up.
“I am feeling more confident day in, day out.
“I want to improve on my goals and assists.”
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