'Expect to see her quite soon' - USWNT star Catarina Macario nearing Chelsea debut, says Emma Hayes

Macario joined Chelsea from Lyon last summer but she did so while still recovering from a long-term ACL injury and is yet to step on the field for her new club as a result of that ongoing process. It's now over 18 months since the Brazilian-born U.S. star played a game but Hayes' latest comments sound extremely promising when it comes to her long-awaited return.

Speaking to the Daily Mail about Macario on Thursday, Hayes said: "She took part in the sessions in Morocco [in a warm weather training camp over the winter break] albeit in a progressive way, not in full team training but parts of training. It'll be the same again today, she will be in parts of training. I think this first part over the next couple of weeks will be the reintroduction and I think Chelsea fans can expect to see her quite soon."

Macario is a world-class player and so her return was always going to be a boost for Chelsea - but it will be an even greater one after the news that Sam Kerr has ruptured her ACL. The USWNT star is one of several players the Blues have who can provide cover in the No.9 role, and the goals and creativity she will bring to the table will generally help the Chelsea squad share the goal-scoring burden while Kerr recovers.

Macario, who was born in Brazil before relocating to the U.S. as a child, was the first naturalized citizen ever to play for the USWNT when she made her senior debut in January 2021.

Chelsea return to action this weekend after enjoying time in Morocco over the winter break and will take on West Ham in the FA Cup on Sunday. Fixtures against Manchester United and Brighton follow later this month, with the Blues also to conclude their Champions League group stage phase with games against Real Madrid and Paris FC. It's unclear whether Macario will debut in any of those games or if her introduction to the Chelsea fans will come in February instead, a month the Blues begin with a home game against Everton.