Xabi Alonso handed boost as Mykhailo Mudryk and three Chelsea stars join pre-season tour

Chelsea are now in Hong Kong for the second leg of their pre-season tour with a friendly against Italian side Juventus coming later in the week

Mykhailo Mudryk is among the four Chelsea players joining up with the Blues squad in Hong Kong after a resolution was found over the anti-doping disciplinary proceedings concerning the winger.

The 25-year-old Ukrainian is free to play competitive football again after 20 months out in the cold after he tested positive for meldonium, which was a banned substance at the time. However, the scientific guidance has since changed and if the initial doping test was conducted now, Mudryk would not be found guilty of any wrongdoing.

Mudryk is due in Hong Kong on Monday, just over 48 hours before Chelsea's pre-season clash with Juventus on Wednesday evening at the Kai Tak Stadium. New signing Danny Welbeck is also due in Hong Kong to meet his teammates after Chelsea struck an agreement for an undisclosed fee, believed to be little to nothing, with Brighton for the 35-year-old striker.

FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page

Welbeck conducted his medical back in London last week before signing a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Jordan Henderson will also become a Chelsea player, subject to official announcement, but is not expected to join up with his new teammates on tour.

Henderson, 36, suffered a severe left forearm and wrist fracture after falling over an advertising hoarding following England's win over Mexico in the World Cup.

Elsewhere, Geovany Quenda and Mike Penders are due in Hong Kong later in the week to begin their pre-season campaign with Chelsea. Quenda was due to be among the travelling party to Sydney last month but suffered a minor knock in a behind-closed-doors friendly and underwent his rehabilitation back at the club's Cobham base.

Quenda, though, who arrived from Sporting CP this summer, is fit and available for selection again and ready to impress new manager Xabi Alonso. Likewise, Penders is set to join up with the Chelsea squad in Hong Kong after his extended break due to his World Cup exploits with Belgium.

Chelsea are also expected to welcome Austin MacPhee to Hong Kong, sources say, after reaching an agreement with Aston Villa for the highly-regarded set-piece coach. The Blues hold an open training session for supporters to come and watch them on Tuesday evening and it remains to be seen whether MacPhee will be a part of the action there.

Click here to read article