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Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi has told head coach Maurizio Sarri and assistant manager Gianfranco Zola that he is prepared to be patient, wait and work for his chances in the first team.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been linked with the 18-year-old in recent weeks and his future has become a regular talking point during press conferences.

He was selected to start in the FA Cup third round clash with Nottingham Forest and impressed with two assists for Alvaro Morata as the Blues won 2-0.

Speaking on New Year's Day, Sarri addressed the issue of giving Hudson-Odoi more minutes in the first team.

"I am in the middle," he said. "I have to win. I can understand very well that a fan loves young players from the academy but in the long run I have to win matches and the fans want me to win matches. Also the club, I think.

"It's not easy at this level to take the young players from the academy. Not only here. Everywhere in Europe. Sometimes there are one, two young players at Barcelona and Real Madrid.

(Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

"There are zero at Juventus and Paris St-Germain. We are lucky because we have [Ethan] Ampadu, [Andreas] Christensen and Odoi.

"In Europe there are few 18-year-old players with eight matches at this level. Odoi has played six or seven matches this season, so I think that he has to be lucky. Not lucky, he is good. He has the potential to be a great player and now he has to improve.

"With the ball, he is a very good player. He has to improve in movements without the ball. He has to improve in the defensive phase."

In his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Forest, Zola also offered some advice to the young Chelsea winger.

"It's about patience," said the retired midfielder. "I believe he has a bright future with us, but he will have to learn that right now for him it's important to get better and better every day.

"I know he hasn't played probably as much as he wanted, but this is down to the quality of the players in front of him. I've already told the player: it's not a waste of time. It's a time you can get better.

"You have to understand the journey's not finished. He's at an age where it's very important to keep a good attitude. It's not important playing straight away, playing 20 games, it's important to develop."

After the win over Forest, Hudson-Odoi spoke of his intent to earn a place in the team and continue to improve so that he make the most of the opportunities that Sarri can provide him.

"I've just got to be patient and keep working hard," he told Chelsea TV. "No matter what, I need to keep pushing in training and training shows the manager as well."

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was forced off with a back injury against Forest while Pedro and Willian are also fighting to prove they are fit to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening.

Hudson-Odoi is aware of the opportunities that these setbacks could provide to him, especially after his performance in the FA Cup, but he is taking nothing for granted.

"The injuries are unfortunate but for me I've just got to keep working hard whether they're injured or not injured," he said. "Hopefully my chances keep coming."

Chelsea's transfer plans for January

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