Callum Hudson-Odoi's Chelsea career faced a major crossroads this season.
Back in the summer as we entered the final days of the transfer window, Hudson-Odoi had made up his mind, he wanted to go on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
The Bundesliga club was only one potential destination for the winger with Atalanta and Leicester City mentioned also.
In the context of August, Hudson-Odoi's logic was sound. He had not played a single minute of competitive football for Thomas Tuchel in Chelsea's first three Premier League games.
Even Emerson Palmieri, who was set to depart on loan to Lyon for the season got a cameo role in the opening day win over Crystal Palace.
The need for Hudson-Odoi to gain valuable and consistent minutes was clear and he could not spend another season enduring long periods on Chelsea's bench.
But a deadline day loan was blocked by Tuchel. Citing the need for squad depth given the 21-year-old could fill in at wingback if required – a role he took up in the next game against Aston Villa.
It appeared like Hudson-Odoi's future would become a topic of conversation again in January with the likelihood of his spot remaining on the fringes.
Then things changed.
Sure, injuries to both Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku opened up a clear chance to play further up the pitch in his favoured left-wing role.
But his influential displays between October and November propelled Chelsea to the top of the Premier League and suddenly the outlook for Hudson-Odoi was extremely different.
Hudson-Odoi spoke after the Club World Cup final, where he started and set up Romelu Lukaku's opener, to have his say on how things have progressed under Tuchel this term.
"Big trophies like this are games you want to be involved in with a club like this," said Hudson-Odoi.
"Big games, big trophies, you want to win as much as possible with a club like this. Our aim is always to win games and win as many as possible.
"When we get the opportunity we keep pushing.
"If I went out in the summer I wouldn’t get opportunities to play like this and enjoy the games and win trophies. So I’m really delighted that I stayed and obviously I got the opportunity to play."
This message could be heeded by several of Hudson-Odoi's attacking peers with speculation surrounding some big potential departures this summer.
Most relevant here is Christian Pulisic, who came off the bench to replace the injured Mason Mount against Palmeiras.
The American winger expressed his own frustration during the international break after not playing a minute against Brighton or Spurs. His lack of involvement continued in the FA Cup clash with Plymouth and the Club World Cup semi-final against Al-Hilal.
Though after coming off the bench and looking bright in a new position for Tuchel, this change can potentially offer Pulisic a route back into first-team football.
The American is only two years older than his attacking peer and like the Cobham graduate, has had to recover from severe injury setbacks that have halted his progress.
Pulisic can use Hudson-Odoi as inspiration to regain favour under Tuchel and change the complexion of his Chelsea career.
He is regularly named alongside Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech as a trio of names who could be sold this summer.
However, that fate doesn't have to be sealed and the talent within Pulisic can still prove highly beneficial to Chelsea.
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