Thomas Tuchel makes Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi decision ahead of Chelsea pre-season

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ben Chilwell have both returned to Chelsea's preseason training early in an effort to put their injury issues from 2021–22 behind them.

The duo spent extended periods on the sidelines, with Chilwell only playing a total of seven Premier League games for the Blues last term before suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Juventus in December, although he still scored three goals in that time. Hudson-Odoi missed nearly the entire second half of the season with an achilles problem.

Chelsea were well in the race for the Premier League title until injuries to the duo as well as Reece James saw their form take a dip at the start of 2022. Thomas Tuchel did see Chilwell return in the Blues' final game of the Premier League season, however, as he came off the bench against Watford at Stamford Bridge, something the German admitted did have him worried.

Tuchel said: "I was a bit scared if it was maybe too much because he has been in training but not full training. But he has worked hard to be back and he was happy to have the chance to have some minutes."

Chilwell admitted that plenty was running through his mind when he came off the bench for Mason Mount as well: "There were so many different emotions going through my head when I came on: excitement, nerves, everything. It was an amazing reaction from the fans. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a football pitch. To get that in before the end of the season is really good, and going into pre-season now I can really kick on.

"I can really hit the ground running when I come to pre-season. I’ve got a lot of work to do still. The season is going to come around very quickly. It’s important I work hard over the summer to make sure I’m flying for pre-season."

Chilwell and Hudson-Odoi are both firm fan-favourites and the Stamford Bridge faithful will be eager to see the duo reach their full potential next season. A new left-back and attacking reinforcements remain on the transfer wishlist, however.