Jadon Sancho returns to Chelsea first-team training after nearly three weeks out with an illness – as Man United loanee looks to earn back a starting spot under Enzo Maresca

Jadon Sancho was spotted back at Chelsea’s first-team training on Monday.

The winger has been out of action with an illness in the last three weeks, which was confirmed by Blues boss Enzo Maresca prior to their clash with Man United.

There were question marks over whether Maresca had potentially fallen out with Sancho, similarly to how former United boss Erik ten Hag did.

However, that has been put to bed after Sancho was spotted back in first-team training on Monday afternoon.

The winger was spotted with a snood on as he gave up to a thumbs up to the camera man at Cobham.

It will come as a welcome boost to Maresca side ahead of their clash with Leicester on Saturday afternoon – with Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill also back in training.

The 24-year-old has made five appearances since joining the Blues for Man United

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, Sancho wasted little time in settling in under Blues boss Maresca.

The 25-year-old was handed his debut as a second-half substitute against Bournemouth and immediately repaid his manager’s faith by assisting Christopher Nkunku’s late winner.

Since then he has only continued to flourish for the Blues, adding further assists in comfortable Premier League victories over West Ham and Brighton.

Though, prior to his absence through illness, there were suggestions that Sancho had lost his place to fellow summer signing Pedro Neto.

It also emerged recently that United reportedly asked high-profile pundits to stop praising Sancho during the winger’s loan stint at Borussia Dortmund.

The 24-year-old fell out with Ten Hag after the then-Red Devils boss left him out of the squad that suffered a 3-1 defeat against Arsenal last September, due to his ‘performance in training’.

Sancho hit back on social media, accusing his manager of making him a ‘scapegoat’, and Ten Hag responded by exiling the England international from his squad.

The winger has been sidelined with an illness since the start of the month

Sancho was forced to train, eat and change on his own, and refused to apologise until the club eventually sanctioned a temporary move to his former club Dortmund.

Back in familiar surroundings, Sancho shone, recording six goal contributions and helping the side reach their first Champions League final in more than a decade. His displays promoted a wave of praise from pundits, who lauded his return to form.

But according to ESPN, United were wary of how his performances were viewed amid their own struggles in the Premier League, asking pundits to tone down the flattery.