Callum Hudson-Odoi plan set out as ‘exciting’ Nottingham Forest prediction made
Latest Nottingham Forest news as Reds boss Steve Cooper discusses signing of former Chelsea winger
Summer signing Callum Hudson-Odoi has been challenged to show what he is about at Nottingham Forest.
If he does that, head coach Steve Cooper is certain the winger can make a “really big impact” for the Reds. But he admits it will take time and hard work for the 22-year-old to get back to his best.
Hudson-Odoi was part of the World Cup-winning England Under-17 side under Cooper. But he hasn’t had the easiest time of it since then, being hampered by injury and starting just 13 games during a loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen last season. It is hoped the move to the City Ground from Chelsea can be a fresh start for the wide man. And Cooper is excited by what he can have to offer.
Asked how he can help Hudson-Odoi reach his potential, the Forest boss said: “Support him, believe in him, get him to believe in himself, push him, tough love, but more than anything, let him be free and understand that if he does all of the non-negotiables right – like work ethic and focus – then the boy has talent. I’ve got to say he has come in and he really has looked bright.
“I only have positive memories of Callum, but it’s been six years since the World Cup. He was a boy then and he’s turned into a young man and lots of things have changed in his life.
“What hasn’t changed is the love for football and the love for doing well. Not just him, we’ve got lots of young players who need exactly the same support to make them feel like they can be at their best – but it’s not easy to do that. I just want to put them in an environment where they feel like they can be themselves.
“Hopefully the change will do him good as well, moving to another part of the country, being in a new dressing room and with a new set of coaches. Hopefully that will be good for him and all the new boys and gives him a real spring to show what he can do. If we can get him to a certain level then the boy can have a really big impact.
“He had that Achilles’ injury that set him back. But I’m not really interested in that, what I’m interested in is his progress now and his development and his every day work.
“I’m only looking forward. I think we’ve signed a really good player. But you’re only a really good player if you do the things we just talked about – if you prepare right, you work hard and you believe in yourself on game days. If we can do that with him then I’m sure he can show us what he can do.
“We’ve had conversations and set ourselves some objectives and goals for him. We look forward to really backing him in being able to do that.
“If we can support Callum and get him in a good place, then he’s a really exciting player. He’s shown that already, and he’s still young enough to show it again over a long period of time.”
