Midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has made an early return to Chelsea from his international commitments.

The 20-year-old was recently called up to represent the England Under-21 team for the first time, slated to participate in their Euro qualification matches versus Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.

Chukwuemeka did not see action during England’s 5-1 victory over Azerbaijan on Friday and has since returned to Chelsea’s training base ahead of schedule. According to the club, he will focus on enhancing his fitness at Cobham.

Throughout the current season, Chukwuemeka has faced intermittent spells on the sidelines due to injury, featuring in only nine matches for the Blues. However, he has managed to find the net twice, including a goal in their most recent fixture before the international break against Leicester City, and has also provided one assist.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino will likely anticipate that this premature return will enable Chukwuemeka to play a pivotal role in the team’s upcoming matches as they strive to secure European football and vie for silverware.