Chelsea's pre-season preparations got underway on Saturday as the first group of Thomas Tuchel's team returned from their break for the first training session of the summer at Cobham. As many as fourteen stars could be seen going through several drills as coaches were present to take the players through sessions both in and outdoors.
Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been present at Cobham since the end of the season in a bid to enhance their fitness after missing large portions of last term. Chilwell managed to make an appearance in the final match of 2021/22 against Watford as he built upon his training ground return following his ACL injury. Hudson-Odoi struggled with a persistent Achilles and back issue that saw him miss the end of this season.
They were joined by a number of players who have not spent a sustained period at Cobham in almost 12 months. Ian Maatsen spent time on loan at Coventry City, Tino Anjorin at Lokomotiv Moscow and Huddersfield, Dujon Sterling at Blackpool and Levi Colwill also at Huddersfield.
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They make up the first group of loan stars who Tuchel will cast his eye over when forming his squad for the hectic season ahead. All will be watched ahead of any decisions on their future, with Colwill of particular interest given Chelsea's shortage in defence following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. They may find inspiration in Trevoh Chalobah, who returned a year ago from a loan with Lorient to force his way into the Blues' first-team squad and starting XI for the UEFA Super Cup and beyond.
The defender led a group of familiar first-team stars who also returned in Hakim Ziyech, Ross Barkley, Malang Sarr, Kenedy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marcus Bettinelli. They will be joined by Chelsea's stars, who spent time on international duty a week later for the trip to Los Angeles, where the squad will undergo a training camp before playing friendlies against Club America, Charlotte and Arsenal.
The squad appear in good spirits, with Loftus-Cheek proclaiming "feeling good, feeling ready", Chilwell expressing similar in a video released by the club, and Hudson-Odoi declaring on social media, "Feels good to be back!".
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