Hudson-Odoi 'speechless' after becoming youngest competitive England debutant

Gareth Southgate handed Callum Hudson-Odoi his England debut on Friday, leaving the 18-year-old astonished.

Published : Mar 23, 2019 13:00 IST

England youngsters Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
England youngsters Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
lightbox-info

England youngsters Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was "speechless" after becoming the youngest player to represent England in a competitive international during Friday's 5-0 hammering of the Czech Republic.

England was on top form at Wembley, tearing the visitor apart and making an emphatic start to Euro 2020 qualifying.

READ | Sterling hat-trick gives England five-star start to Euro 2020 qualifiers

Raheem Sterling was the pick of the bunch with a hat-trick, but Hudson-Odoi – who replaced the Manchester City star – had a hand in the final goal, as goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka parried his shot and Tomas Kalas put into his own net with a woeful first touch.

Hudson-Odoi was making his first appearance for England despite not having started a Premier League game for Chelsea yet, and he was left struggling to comprehend his situation.

"I'm absolutely delighted," the 18-year-old told ITV . "I just want to thank everyone who's helped me get where I am today.

"Obviously the opportunity to come on in front of a home crowd was absolutely amazing. I can't believe it, I'm speechless."

Jadon Sancho also enjoyed a lively match after making his first senior start, setting up Sterling's first and catching the eye with his silky footwork.

RELATED | Sterling has come full circle for England – Southgate

Initially he looked a little nervous, but support from captain Harry Kane helped him get back on track.

"He [Kane] just said keep being positive, as the first couple of one-on-ones didn't go my way," said the Borussia Dortmund star.

"He just said that and I stuck to the plan. In training, me and 'H' have a special connection, so once he touched the ball [in the build-up to Sterling's opener], I knew he was going to do a reverse pass in behind and it was an easy goal for Raheem.

"In training he speaks to me, he gives me advice, tells me to be confident on the ball, off the ball, just keep working hard. Coming from the captain and such a great player, it's a nice boost."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment