Chelsea conducted an open training session at the Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday evening in Hong Kong in front of thousands of supporters
Mykhailo Mudryk
Mykhailo Mudryk during Chelsea's open training session in Hong Kong(Image: May James/AFP)
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Make no mistake about it, Mykhailo Mudryk was the biggest talking point of the day from a Chelsea perspective.
Just moments before the Blues held an open training session at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, Xabi Alonso conducted his pre-match press conference. Unsurprisingly, the majority of questions the Chelsea manager fielded were in relation to Mudryk after the news that he is available to play competitive football again.
Mudryk was then involved in Chelsea's training session that followed directly after. The session was open for the public to view, meaning football.london was among the spectators within the air-conditioned arena. And, with that being said, here are a few things we spotted that you might not have:
Mudryk last player to leave pitch
It was great to see Mudryk back out there, playing football with a smile on his face. It genuinely seemed like he was enjoying being in a team environment again after 20-or-so months in the wilderness.
The Ukrainian was involved in the first half of the session with what one would assume is Alonso's best XI - or close to - at the moment (we'll get onto that in a second). However, Mudryk then went to train in a separate group with, again, what one would assume to be the 'fringe' players or those at different stages, in terms of fitness, of their pre-seasons.
Either way, Mudryk was pleased to be out there and happy to be able to share the moment with supporters. He stayed longer than any other Chelsea player to sign autographs at the end. Much to their delight.
Team news hint
As promised, here is the 11 players Alonso picked to do a build-up/attacking drill: Sharman-Lowe (sometimes Penders); Acheampong, Fofana, Tosin, Hato; Caicedo, Nicoll-Jazuli; Estevao, Joao Pedro, Gittens; Welbeck. The likes of Geovany Quenda would often rotate with Estevao but it seemed a pretty set XI.
That could be - emphasis on 'could' - the line-up Alonso goes with for the friendly against Juventus on Wednesday evening. The prospect of Welbeck making his first start is exciting - and the striker looked very sharp in the box at the Kai Tak Stadium.
Jackson beauty
Nicolas Jackson looked typically nonchalant during Chelsea's training session. Fittingly, he scored - to football.london's knowledge - the pick of the goals in Hong Kong.
After a ball was whipped in, Jackson's near-post run saw him strike the ball on the volley with the back of his heel and into the back of the net. It was hit with such sweet connection and it caused a collective 'oooooooh' from the crowd. See below:
Lonely Palmer
It took us a while to realise Cole Palmer hadn't walked out with the rest of the team. It's one of those things: you just expect Chelsea's No.10 to be there with the squad.
Palmer, though, walked out around 15 minutes into the session. Instead of joining the group, the 24-year-old did his own thing with an individual trainer. It was more fitness-related work than anything with a ball, towards the sideline.
Let's hope whatever it is isn't serious. Those Chelsea supporters in Hong Kong will be desperate to see Palmer in some sort of action at the Kai Tak.
Colwill injury scare
Equally, let's hope Levi Colwill is okay. The England defender didn't train at all on Tuesday night. Colwill watched the latter stages of the session from the dugout, where he sat alongside Palmer, but didn't take any part.
Perhaps it's Chelsea being cautious given his serious anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for the majority of last season. Perhaps there's a knock. We will hear more from Alonso on Wednesday evening.
Right now, though, it seems Colwill will not feature against Juve in Hong Kong.