Mykhailo Mudryk has not played a competitive match since November 2024. That could change Wednesday.
Chelsea named the 25-year-old Ukrainian winger in their squad for a preseason friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong, raising the possibility that he steps onto a pitch for the first time in nearly 20 months. He was provisionally suspended after returning an adverse finding for the banned substance meldonium, but the Football Association cleared him to return last week after he resolved his case, according to BBC Sport.
New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso addressed Mudryk's status directly before the match. "Yes, he could play. Maybe [to play] 90 minutes it's too early, but he can be selected. He's selected, so he can play," Alonso said. "He trained yesterday, came directly from the airport to the hotel. So, yesterday was more about the feelings, more about the emotions, to be back with the players to assess the fitness level."
The scene at Kai Tak Stadium during Chelsea's open training session offered a glimpse of how Mudryk's return has been received. When his picture appeared on the big screen, he received a loud cheer from those in attendance. As he warmed up with the squad, Elton John's song I'm Still Standing played over the public address system.
During the session, Mudryk took part in possession drills with the squad and could be seen playfully wrestling with defender Tosin Adarabioyo before one of them. He worked first with a group of players likely to be among the substitutes, taking part in a set-piece session led by new coach Austin MacPhee, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa. He then participated in a second drill led by Alonso himself, working as one of two left-sided wingers on attacking patterns of play.
Mudryk had stepped off a plane from London just 36 hours before the training session, arriving alongside goalkeepers Mike Penders and Gabriel Slonina, wingers Geovany Quenda and Pedro Neto, and new signing Danny Welbeck. Before training began, Chelsea filmed him pointing to the club badge.
Those close to Mudryk say he felt genuine excitement and relief about returning to the Chelsea dressing room. Within the restrictions of his suspension, the club had kept track of him physically and mentally, and several teammates stayed in touch with him throughout the process. He is understood to have hired a private coach during his time away and focused on maintaining consistency and intensity in his training to preserve his career.
The friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong is scheduled for Wednesday.
