Emma Hayes reveals Catarina Macario's hilarious edible gesture to Chelsea team-mates after USWNT star made long-awaited return from ACL injury

Macario made her long-awaited return to action on Sunday, an incredible 22 months after rupturing her ACL in her final game for Lyon. It was her Chelsea debut and she marked it with a goal just six minutes after coming off the bench, sealing a 4-0 win for the Blues over Leicester.

But it wasn't just a moment for Macario to revel in, with Chelsea boss Emma Hayes revealing that the USWNT forward brought in a special surprise for everyone at the club on Wednesday to say thank you.

"She's a super character, she really is, and ever since she came into this club, I think the dressing room really took her in as one of their own," Hayes said on Wednesday. "Even today, she bought a cake for everyone to celebrate everybody putting up with her. There was just a large cake with a big picture of herself on it that we had to cut through. It just said, 'Thank you for putting up with me during this'.

"It's been a long battle and her teammates have been tremendous in helping her through that. But the staff, this is the work that people don't see that the medical team do and the performance team do. That's why it's important to mention it.

"For me as a manager, she's someone I brought to this club, someone I really really wanted to bring to this club. I knew we were taking someone who wasn't 100 per cent fit, maybe I didn't think it would take this long, but she's had setbacks and I'm just delighted for her that she can finally progress her career with Chelsea. She's a super, super person."

Macario's return to fitness comes at a perfect time for Chelsea, too. The Blues lost star striker Sam Kerr to an ACL injury in the New Year and then Mia Fishel, the USWNT forward who was signed last summer to be Kerr's back-up, went down with the same devastating problem just last month. Chelsea did spend big in January on striker Mayra Ramirez but Macario's availability will also help cope with these absences.

Macario was born in Brazil and became the first naturalised citizen ever to play for the USWNT when she made her debut in January 2021.

Macario's return is also well-timed because it means she is available for Chelsea for the business end of the season, with a Continental Cup semi-final against title rivals Manchester City to come on Thursday.