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Football London
Football London
Sport
Robert Warlow

The statistic that proves Callum Hudson-Odoi is the natural heir to Eden Hazard at Chelsea

It has been quite the year for Callum Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season with the Blues, making 24 appearances in all competitions and netting five goals as Chelsea finished in third place in the Premier League and enjoyed success in the Europa League.

But the teenager was not available for the final in Baku, after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury in April in the Premier League clash against Burnley.

However, he still registered some impressive statistics during his nine appearances in Europe for the Blues, with four goals as Chelsea won the competition.

And one statistic from WhoScored.com in particular shows that the teenager looks set for a bright future at Chelsea, with Hudson-Odoi one of the players the Blues will hope can step up following Eden Hazard's exit this summer.

Callum Hudson-Odoi in action at Stamford Bridge. (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Of the 56 players to complete more than 20 dribbles last season, Hudson-Odoi had a better success rate than any other player in the Europa League in 2018/19, with 78.9 per cent of his dribbles being completed.

He also had a pass success rate of 86 per cent in his ten Premier League appearances last season, six of which came from off the bench.

And that has got some Chelsea fans talking, as can be seen from their reaction below.

The Belgian was Chelsea's main man last season, and regularly topped the dribbling statistics during his time in west London, with Hazard netting 21 goals in a standout campaign for the Blues.

But with Hazard leaving this summer to join Real Madrid, Chelsea are looking for a natural successor to pick up the mantle following his departure, and particularly so with the Blues currently subject to a transfer ban.

Speaking about how he plans to replace Hazard, the Blues' new head coach Frank Lampard said: "You look around at what you do have and what we have is already a very strong squad and young players at a really good age that have, not just potential, some of them have already shown it in the first team.

"They have the talent to, I won’t say fill Eden Hazard’s boots, he’s very unique, but we have players who in their own way can be huge players."

One of those players is Hudson-Odoi, and Chelsea will be hoping that he can fulfil his potential at Stamford Bridge, amid interest in him from German champions Bayern Munich.

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