Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris has said Calum Hudson-Odoi knows he can perform better ahead of the Blue's third round FA Cup tie on Sunday.
Tribalfootball.com was present as speaking in place of manager Frank Lampard, Morris came to the defence of Hudson-Odoi's form but said he also expected more of himself.
The young England international has come in for criticism for his recent performances this season, having impressed under former coach Maurizio Sarri last term.
“He knows he can do better, he's been told he can do better," Morris said.
“We do have to keep reminding ourselves that it's a ruptured Achilles, and an 18 year old said when you haven't even played regular football and play to way that we want to play it will take time."
Hudson-Odoi spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines during pre-season and Morris thinks that his injuries have contributed to his form.
“He hasn't really gone through any tough spells in his career that I can remember, when he's had a serious injury before," Morris added.
“Everything's been kind of plain sailing throughout the academy. He was one of the best players in the building for a long time. He did ok last year when he came in, albeit they weren't in the kind of the bigger games. But remember his age, the fact that he hasn't played regular first team football and the seriousness of his injury I think you do need to take into account that you need to give the kid, a bit of time."
The 19-year-old is one of several young English talents to make appearances for the Chelsea first term, with Fikayo Timori, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount all playing important roles in the club's run into the Premier League's top four.
Asked if the way Lampard has promoted youth this season made him proud, Morris said: “Yeah, I mean of course it does.
“I can't get them away from the fact that I'm homegrown myself. I'm a massive Chelsea fan. There's nothing better than seeing the homegrown players coming through, and the fact we've had seven debutants this year is suggesting that okay we're maybe giving some of them a chance."
Chelsea's opponents on Sunday are Championship side Nottingham Forest, who travel to Stamford Bridge in fourth in the second tier.
