Callum Hudson-Odoi made his return from injury for Chelsea last night but Frank Lampard has revealed the England man must improve if he wants a place in his starting line-up.
The Blues hammered Grimsby in the Carabao Cup third round, winning 7-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Hudson-Odoi netted the final goal of the game as Chelsea set up a meeting with Manchester United.
But Lampard has revealed he wasn’t happy with the way the winger was playing in the first half and delivered a strong message to the 18-year-old.
He said: “In the first half. With Callum and Christian Pulisic as wingers, the message was to hurt the Grimsby line and run in behind and end up in areas inside the box where you are taking people on.
“It wasn’t happening and at half-time the message had to be reinforced pretty strongly.
“In the second half we managed to get in better positions.
“Callum’s talent means he has to work hard to run behind people, to get at people and be inside and outside and work off the ball.
“That is where he needs to learn, because if he wants to be in the team week in week out that is what he will have to do.”
Lampard was also impressed with Reece James who was named in the Championship Team of the Year last season but has struggled with injury so far this campaign.
“His game will get much better,” insisted Lampard.
“He has been out a long time and he has only played minimal minutes in the Under-23s, but Reece’s performances last year at Wigan when he was in the Team of the Year in the Championship showed the talent he has got and he is going to be a big player for this club.
“He has got a great player and person to look up to in Cesar Azpilicueta who is in his position.
“He showed his real quality on the ball today so that is just the start for Reece.”
Chelsea return to action against Brighton in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (3pm).
