Ben Chilwell trained with Chelsea’s first team on Monday after reaching a truce with Enzo Maresca to avoid him spending the next four months in the football wilderness.
Maresca had sanctioned the sale of Chilwell in the summer but when no move materialised, it left the Blues in a sticky situation over how to proceed.
The 27-year-old’s return comes after he was included in the Premier League squad submitted last week once it became clear that he was not leaving on loan.
He had previously been left disappointed when he missed out on being named in the Conference League squad handed in to UEFA as Chelsea were still hoping to move him on at that time.
While that means he cannot feature in the European competition, Chilwell can now live in hope of some form of first-team minutes after returning to training at Cobham, particularly in the Carabao Cup when Chelsea face Barrow next week.
Chelsea could still search for a potential suitor in January as Maresca has already insisted he is not what he wants in a left back. Yet the England international would be available as an option in the Premier League if an injury crisis struck.
Chelsea are training this week ahead of facing West Ham in Saturday’s lunchtime offering.
Jadon Sancho was not involved outdoors with Chilwell and Co on Monday as he was indoors taking part in a separate recovery session.
Sancho is still building towards full fitness with his 45 minutes at Bournemouth his first in the Premier League this season.