Gareth Southgate has questioned Callum Hudson-Odoi's decision to turn down his latest England under-21 call-up in the Chelsea youngster's ploy to break into Thomas Tuchel's foreseeable plans.
The 20-year-old turned down the opportunity to work with Lee Carsley and Ashley Cole's young Three Lions in October so that he could focus his future in west London.
As previously reported by football.london, Hudson-Odoi's decision is not linked to the suggestion that he's considering representing Ghana, whom of which meets the FIFA criteria for switching allegiances to Ghana in November 2022 ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
The Cobham graduate's decisions have begun to pay off and he's enjoyed a succession of dazzling displays in his preferred position, Tuchel's front-three.
Daniel Childs was joined by football.london Chelsea correspondents Sam Inkersole and Adam Newson to delve deeper into Hudson-Odoi's latest situation at Stamford Bridge and to discuss what his prospects look like following the international break, live on the Carefree Chelsea Back Pages show.
Newson kickstarted the debate by outlining how Hudson-Odoi has done as much as he can - within reason - to prove himself to Tuchel once Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku return from injury.
"Callum's done what he could, he's stepped up having been given the chance and I think what happens next is important," he began.
"Tuchel has treated Callum with a lot of tough love. He's obviously played him out of position a lot, he accepts that Callum isn't the world's best wing-back and he is far better in the forward line but Callum has to do a job for Chelsea.
"He's also been very hard on him in matches - as we've seen - he does get shouted at a lot."
Newson then added how Hudson-Odoi's treatment now at Chelsea can be likened to Jose Mourinho's of Joe Cole.
"In the same way, if you take the Mourinho angle of it, Cole had this 15, 16, years ago where Jose was really hard on him.
"Joe Cole was having big moments in matches and then Jose would come out and say, 'well I don't think he's doing enough for the team,' and Jose stayed with Cole and Cole enjoyed a couple of very good seasons for Chelsea because of that tough love.
"Tuchel has treated Callum with tough love. Callum is now starting to respond and have an impact. If you have started this method you have to follow through with it."
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