Mykhailo Mudryk is poised to make his return to competitive action on Wednesday, potentially playing in a friendly match against Juventus in Hong Kong. Mudryk has been sidelined for 20 months after an adverse finding for the banned substance meldonium.
The 25-year-old Ukraine international has not featured in a competitive match since November 2024. He was provisionally suspended following the adverse finding but was cleared to resume playing last week after his case was resolved with the Football Association.
Chelsea's new manager, Xabi Alonso, confirmed Mudryk's inclusion in the squad. "Yes, he could play," Alonso stated. "Maybe [to play] 90 minutes it's too early, but he can be selected. He's selected, so he can play." Alonso added that Mudryk trained upon arrival and the session focused on assessing his fitness and emotional state after his long absence. "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."