Liverpool star sends Noni Madueke clear message as Mykhailo Mudryk makes big Chelsea statement

A number of Chelsea players were in action on Tuesday evening as the final international break of the season draws to a close.

The return of Premier League football is almost upon us, with the Blues taking on Burnley at the weekend, but before that there was a chance for players to represent their countries yet again – and for the last time this season. Noni Madueke starred for the England Under-21s in a 7-0 thumping of Luxembourg.

Madueke, who has been in and out of the Chelsea XI since Mauricio Pochettino was appointed last summer, scored twice and provided two assists along the way. His first goal was a really clever and calm finish, side-footing the ball into the bottom corner, leaving the goalkeeper helpless.

His second, a much more venomous strike of the ball, once again left the keeper with no chance. Madueke then set up both of Morgan Rogers’ goals. The Chelsea winger also scored in the young Lions’ win against Azerbaijan last week, meaning he netted three times in two matches during the break.

Harvey Elliott, Madueke’s teammate at international level, was clearly impressed with what he saw from the tricky wide man. After Madueke posted a photo on his Instagram page, the Liverpool midfielder responded with a comment of a cold emoji.

Madueke is in fine form for club and country. In the final game before the two-week international break, the former PSV Eindhoven winger scored a beautiful solo goal to wrap up the FA Cup quarter-final victory against Leicester City.

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Elsewhere, Mykhailo Mudryk inspired Ukraine to beat Iceland and qualify for this summer’s Euros with a late winner. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box with just five minutes remaining, Mudryk’s first-time strike found the bottom corner to send those inside the Wroclaw Stadium into ecstasy.

Mudryk started last time out for Chelsea in their win against Leicester but is yet to make a starting XI in the Premier League this calendar year. However, given the form Raheem Sterling is in right now and the fact he was heavily booed in the Blues’ victory over the Foxes earlier in the month, there perhaps has not been a better time for Mudryk to be given the nod.

At Wembley, there were two Chelsea players involved, while two did not come off the bench. Romelu Lukaku was impressive for Belgium in their 2-2 draw with England in London. Lukaku played a fabulous outside-of-the-foot cross to Youri Tielemans for the midfielder’s second goal of the game.

Meanwhile, Ben Chilwell completed the full 90 minutes for the Three Lions at left-back. Cole Palmer, who only returned to training at the beginning of the week, and Conor Gallagher were named on the bench but were not brought on at Wembley.

In the Spanish capital of Madrid, Marc Cucurella completed the full game for Spain in a six-goal thriller with Brazil. The match finished 3-3 with Cucurella getting some valuable time on the pitch after being called up late because of the injury to fellow left-back Jose Gaya.

Nicolas Jackson came on in the second-half for Senegal as they beat Benin in a friendly. The Chelsea striker started from the bench in France, but came on in the second-half for his country.

Cesare Casadei completed the full 90 minutes for Italy Under-21s as they drew 1-1 with Turkey. Casadei, who has played just 34 minutes since being recalled from his loan at Leicester in January, was unable to have too much of an influence on the game but will be hoping he can take some part against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.