Chelsea crocks Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoi named in Champions League squad
CHELSEA stars Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek appear to be nearing a return to action having been named in the club's Champions League squad.
Neither academy graduate has featured for the Blues this season due to injury.
On Wednesday, Chelsea named their squad for the upcoming group stage and Loftus-Cheek's inclusion should guarantee his return before long.
Given neither the midfielder nor teammate Hudson-Odoi, who is expected back sooner, have had a pre-season it would be futile adding them in unless they were to be fit to play by November.
England winger Hudson-Odoi, 18, ruptured his Achilles tendon in April and began full training last month.
That opens up the prospect of a playing return in September after coach Frank Lampard said the player is "looking bright and sharp".
He added: "But now we're in the zone where it's about protecting him, giving him conditioning with fitness, especially in the area of his injury."
Also suffering with an Achilles problem dating back to May, Loftus-Cheek, 23, is yet to feature in training - putting back any playing comeback for a couple of months.
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Chelsea named a 20-man squad for the games against Lille, Valencia and Ajax with ten homegrown players featuring across the senior and B lists.
Antonio Rudiger made the cut despite his knee injury and a selection of reserve outings puts him in contention for a first-team return this month.
And kids George McEachran, Billy Gilmour, Marc Guehi and Jamie Cumming were called up too.