Mauricio Pochettino named a youthful side for his first Chelsea starting XI in the pre-season clash against Wrexham.
But Blues fans couldn’t help but notice that Mykhailo Mudryk was left out of the squad – with the club not giving a reason as to why.
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The Ukraine international, who arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk in January for £88million, flew out with his teammates for the tour in America.
Supporters have tipped the 22-year-old to shine under Pochettino’s tutelage in the upcoming season, with the forward still searching for his first Chelsea goal.
However, Mudryk wasn’t named in the matchday squad for the Florida Cup game to the surprise of supporters – despite being present at the Kenan Memorial Stadium.
Neither were Enzo Fernandez, Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke, with Chelsea stating the trio had been left out as they ‘only returned for pre-season training at the start of the week’.
Yet no reason was given for Mudryk’s absence on Chelsea’s website, though it is likely that Pochettino is easing the youngster back into action after he competed in the Under-21 European Championship.
Still, it left fans wondering why he had been omitted from the squad, with one fan tweeting: “No mention of Mudryk in the team news, fishy.”
Another said: “What happened to Mudryk?”
A third added: “I stayed up this late to not see Mudryk smoke?”
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This fan simply stated: “Why isn’t Mudryk in [the] squad?”
Meanwhile another commented: “No Mudryk, why?”
Though one player that did star was new signing Nicolas Jackson, who was elected to lead the line.
However fellow summer recruit Christopher Nkunku was named on the bench.
Academy goalkeeper Jamie Cumming started between the sticks, with the defence consisting of Malo Gusto, Trevor Chalobah, Bashir Humphreys and Marc Cucurella.
Andrey Santos, Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka started in midfield, with Pochettino going for Diego Moreira, Jackson and Ian Maatsen in attack.
