Mudryk back on the pitch: Chelsea winger ends 20-month ban with Hong Kong cameo

Mykhailo Mudryk is back. The Chelsea winger made his long-awaited return in Wednesday's friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong. Mudryk came on in the 82nd minute for Nicolas Jackson, wearing the No. 43 jersey. New Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso gave the Ukrainian his first minutes in over 20 months to start reintegrating him into the squad. The layoff lasted roughly 615 days. Mudryk's last official appearance came in November 2024, when he scored in a Conference League game against Germany's Heidenheim. Not long after, Mudryk was suspended for a positive doping test. Meldonium was found in his system, and he initially faced a four-year ban. Following a lengthy legal process, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the English Football Association partially upheld his appeal, clearing him to return to professional football with immediate effect.