Mudryk's Chelsea Return Awaits Fitness Assessment, Says Manager Alonso

Mykhailo Mudryk is set to rejoin the Chelsea squad for their pre-season tour, but manager Xabi Alonso has indicated it is premature to assess the Ukraine winger's readiness. Mudryk, 25, has not competed since November 2024, having been provisionally suspended following an adverse finding for the banned substance meldonium. The Football Association (FA) has concluded its anti-doping proceedings after Mudryk acknowledged breaching anti-doping regulations and agreed to a suspension equivalent to the one year and eight months already served.

"Yes, he is coming to Hong Kong, but I haven't spoken to him yet," Alonso said following a friendly match in Sydney. "It's too early to tell how he is in terms of fitness, in terms of the game time you need to be involved again, so it's still too early to tell."

Alonso expressed happiness for Mudryk, acknowledging the winger's difficult period. "We are happy for him, especially for him, because we are probably not able to understand what he has been through during this time and how he feels at the moment with the things he has had to cope with," Alonso stated.

During his suspension, Mudryk was unable to train at Chelsea's facilities or work with club staff. Instead, he maintained his fitness with a private coach and goalkeepers, conducting sessions independently. "We expect that it will take time," Alonso added. "He trained on his own every day, and I think it had to be really, really hard because he wanted to play football, he wanted to be part of a team, and he was not allowed to do that for such a long time."

Alonso noted that Chelsea was not anticipating Mudryk's return at this juncture, given the team's existing options on the wing. The club has acquired players such as Pedro Neto, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, and Geovany Quenda, with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers also capable of playing in wide positions.

"Afterwards we will see if it's quicker or slower, but we need to be aware of that. We want him to feel part of the team. Once he is with us, we will see how things develop," Alonso concluded.