Mudryk joined up with the Blues on Monday in Hong Kong after the anti-proceedings that had kept him out of action since December 2024 were resolved.

After two training sessions with the squad, Alonso felt the Ukraine international was ready to return to match action. He informed Mudryk of his decision pre-match, with a late substitution planned and agreed with Nicolas Jackson, who was introduced at half-time.

‘I’m really pleased for him,’ Alonso said during his post-match press conference after our latest pre-season fixture, which ended in a 1-0 defeat. ‘It was emotional for everyone from the club to see him back.

‘When I told him before the game he could play 10 or 15 minutes, he was thrilled for sure. It was after such a long period [that he couldn’t play with the team], so it was a great feeling for him and for everyone else.

Alonso added: ‘It was more than a football decision. It was a human decision and emotional decision to give him this boost, to feel the great support that he got and the great reception when he came on the pitch.’

While Mudryk returned to the squad against Juventus, Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer were both absent. However, Alonso stressed the England duo missed out because of the no-risk approach taken during pre-season.

'They had some discomfort; Cole with a contact injury and Levi as well,' said the Blues manager. 'It's not a big thing, but we want to be cautious because there's no point in risking anything. So, we'll go step by step, day by day.'