Chelsea injury update: Chelsea given Callum-Hudson Odoi injury boost ahead of Liverpool clash

Chelsea injury update : Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has received a major injury boost ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool,as Callum Hudson-Odoi is expected to be fit for Thursday’s heavyweight encounter at Anfield.

The 20-year-old English international was at the center of the action in the first half of Chelsea’s goalless draw with Manchester United and was the main talking point of the match after touching the ball inside his own box in the 14th minute.

And while Hudson-Odoi have breathed a sigh of relief when referee Stuart Attwell decided not to penalize him for handball, he was replaced by Reece James just 30 minutes midway at Stamford Bridge due to an injury scare.

Hudson-Odoi was later seen with an ice pack and a strap around his left thigh and Tuchel confirmed that he had suffered a minor injury, but that the decision to remove him was also a “tactical choice”.

Speaking at his post-match press conference Tuchel said “The reason [he was replaced] was a tactical reason and a little injury, a combination, because we switched to a back-five in defence and covered the wide position from [Marcus] Rashford in between [Cesar] Azpilicueta and Reece James.

“In the second half, that was not an option to use Callum there and that’s why it was a tactical choice.”

According to The Daily Star, Hudson-Odoi is in the race to be fit for Chelsea’s trip to Merseyside and the club is “optimistic” that he will be in contention for the clash.

Thiago Silva last featured for the blues in the game against Tottenham. ( photo by GettyImages)

Meanwhile,Thiago Silva, who has missed Chelsea’s last six games due to a thigh problem, is the club’s only other injury concern and is unavailable for the trip to Anfield.

Tuchel hinted that Timo Werner might be ready for a starring role against Liverpool after deciding to give the striker a “little break” against United.

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On his decision to start Werner on the bench, Tuchel said: “He deserves this now, he had a good impact in the game against Atletico Madrid, there’s the feeling to give Timo a little break, have him fresh also for the fixture against Liverpool.

“He was a bit tired, I felt him a little bit tired after a few games in a row, Timo, so give him a little bit of a rest and let other guys perform who deserve it.”