Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James featured for Chelsea U23 yesterday.

Hudson-Odoi bagged a goal as he and Reece James stepped up their returns from injury for Chelsea U23s against their young Southampton counterparts on Saturday afternoon at St Mary's.

The 18-year-old England international faced five months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon against Burnley back in April but has edged ever closer to a first-team return - having come through the last two Chelsea Under-23 matches unscathed.

Billy Gilmour, who has also featured for the Blues' first-team in the Premier League, threaded Hudson-Odoi through with a lovely pass in the 58th minute. He did the rest, clipping a delightful finish over the helpless Saints 'keeper Harry Lewis.

James, who had a successful loan spell in the Championship with Wigan last term, is another Chelsea academy product looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori in breaking through to the Blues first-team this season under Frank Lampard.