Jackson gave up his spot so Mudryk could get back on the pitch

Mykhailo Mudryk returned to action on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, appearing for Chelsea in a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong. He came on in the 82nd minute, replacing Nicolas Jackson, who had been lively after halftime. Simon Johnson of The Athletic reports that Jackson personally worked it out with head coach Xabi Alonso so Mudryk would get minutes before the end of the game. The Senegalese forward willingly gave up his spot, allowing the Ukrainian to get back on the field after a long absence. It was another sign of the good atmosphere within the squad and the support Mudryk has been receiving from his teammates since his return. Mudryk joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk for €70 million, with a further €30 million in potential bonuses. Before his suspension, he made 73 official appearances for the London club, scoring 10 goals and providing 9 assists.