Enzo Maresca breaks his silence over Mykhailo Mudryk’s positive drugs test as he offers support to suspended Chelsea footballer

Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea have full trust in Mykhailo Mudryk, saying they believe the 23-year-old Ukrainian can prove his innocence in order to return from his suspension.

The £89million winger has not been in the Blues’ match-day squad for their last four fixtures, with it now known that he has been suspended from football after a positive drugs test.

Maresca was quizzed on Mudryk at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday ahead of facing Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League on Thursday.

Reacting for the first time since the news broke, the 44-year-old Italian said: ‘We trust Misha. We support him. What Misha said, and what we said, is that we trust Misha and support Misha.

‘We are all upset and sad. I spoke with him a few days ago. At the moment, he can’t train. We are waiting. The club is here to support the player.

Enzo Maresca gave his full backing to the player in his first press conference since news broke

The Ukrainian is waiting for the findings of his ‘B’ sample after ‘A’ sample returned positive

‘There is not anything to add apart from the club, the staff all support and trust Misha.

‘It is general support. We trust Misha. When this kind of thing happens, you need to support your player in all of the aspects. Misha is a Chelsea player. It’s my duty to be in contact with him. Me, the club, the player.’

Asked directly if he believes Mudryk is innocent, Maresca said: ‘We all believe that. And then we will see.’

Maresca had previously put Mudryk’s absence down to illness. FA rules state a player notified of a positive test result can be provisionally suspended. They then have the chance to respond with an explanation before a decision is made on any charge. Positive test results could lead to a ban of four years and Chelsea are thought to have launched their own investigation.