One Chelsea player has not been spotted in the club’s final training session ahead of tonight’s return to action in the FA Cup.
Pictures on the official club app have not shown Mykhailo Mudryk in action for the Blues, as they prepare for the visit of Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge.
Mudryk was named in the starting side earlier this week when Mauricio Pochettino sent his side into their most important game of the season against Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup.
In an attacking side that absolutely dominated their lower-league opponents, the 22-year-old put in a disappointing personal display.
Teammate Enzo Fernandez was clearly frustrated with what he had seen at times in the first half, visibly throwing his arms around at the lack of movement from the Ukraine international.
His game lasted just 45 minutes, with Pochettino referring to the yellow card he picked up in the opening moments as a reason for his substitution.
Mudryk not seen in training
However, it would be fair to say that he had not done a great deal to put himself in the manager’s thinking for the squad who start tonight against Villa.
His case was only hindered when Noni Madueke, his half-time replacement, found the net to put the final touches on a glorious team display.
Whether he was set to start the game tonight or not, Mudryk’s place in the squad may now be up in the air after he was not seen in training yesterday with the rest of the first team.
The Blues injury record has been consistently painful throughout this entire season so far.
There are seemingly some positive signs around the corner though. While neither will be fit for tonight’s game, there is a chance that both Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku make the squad that travel to Liverpool next week.
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