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      Aston Villa to build Premier League’s largest beer hall as they announce stunning redevelopment plans next to stadium

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      ASTON VILLA have pledged to build the Premier League’s largest ever BEER HALL.Club chiefs have revealed plans for a “bold regeneration” project of Villa Park ahead of the club’s 150 anniversary in January 2025.Aston Villa to build Premier League’s largest beer hall in ‘The Warehouse’Credit: X @AVFCOfficialVilla have launch plans a ‘bold regeneration’ project of Villa Park and its surroundingsCredit: X @AVFCOfficial‘The Warehouse’ will become the largest beer hall in the PremCredit: X @AVFCOfficialAccess to the beer hall will be free to ticketed supporters on matchdaysCredit: X @AVFCOfficialThe multi-million pound renovation project, planned to launch in Christmas 2025, will feature a centrepiece named ‘The Warehouse’.It will become the largest beer hall in the Prem and access will be free to ticketed supporters on matchdays.Villa see The Warehouse as the Midlands’ premier concert venue for events but also want to attract boxing nights too.Fans can enjoy a pint while watching large flat-screens and enjoying state-of-the-art LED lights for pre-match enjoyment.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThere will also be an expanded plaza in the North Grounds, with the aim of amplifying the matchday atmosphere.Villa’s president of business operations Chris Heck labelled the project as “transformational” in an aim to deliver “the best matchday experience in the Premier League.”The development is expected to take 12 months to complete.The club aim for the regeneration project to mirror Villa’s rise on the pitch in the last five years under the ownership of Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSVilla have vowed to build the fan experience zone of the futureCredit: X @AVFCOfficialClub chiefs plan to make The Warehouse the Midlands’ leading concert venue away from matchdaysCredit: X @AVFCOfficialVilla beat Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years last season.But Unai Emery’s side’s form has somewhat dropped in the Prem this term as they sit seventh in table.Brilliant moment Jack Grealish joins Aston Villa fans in Bruges pub on FaceTime after being dropped from Man City squadHowever, they sit fifth in the Champion League standings and therefore remain on course to qualify for the next stage of Europe.Villa have come under fire from supporters with season ticket price hikes and for closing off areas to match-going supporters and transforming them into extra-cost sections.The Midlands club last season shelved plans to redevelop the North Stand and take the stadium’s capacity beyond 50,000.But Heck insists the new world class venue will include a 3,500-seater hub outside the ground.The North Ground developments are due to open by Christmas 2025Credit: X @AVFCOfficialIt will also help Villa align with Premier League financial fair play regulations, with the significant extra revenue raised through a boost in footfall.Heck said: “This is a transformational project, well on its way to completion for next season. “We want to create the best matchday experience possible in the Premier League, so we’re giving our fans an open space to do what fans do best – come together to celebrate the players, the game and the lifeblood of this community.“And the strategic decision to utilise this space as a world-class entertainment venue adds another pivotal piece to climbing the financial fair play mountain.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Everything we do is designed to make this Club one of the best in the world, on and off the pitch.”The Warehouse will also host player receptions.The plaza will connect Villa Park stadium with The WarehouseCredit: X @AVFCOfficialVilla hope boxing events could even be held outside the stadiumCredit: X @AVFCOfficialThe new club shop was opened earlier this seasonCredit: X @AVFCOfficialThe Midlands club last season shelved plans to redevelop the North Stand and take the stadium’s capacity beyond 50,000 More

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      Why Marcus Rashford joining Arsenal is perfect fit but £325k-a-week Man Utd ace must first choose between cash or career

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      MARCUS Rashford is at a crossroads.But now the England star has to make the biggest choice he has ever faced – does he care about cash, or about his career?Marcus Rashford has admitted he is ‘ready for a new challenge’Credit: GettyRashford could be a good fit at Arsenal under Mikel ArtetaCredit: GettyRashford’s shock admission that he is “ready for a new challenge” after some two decades under the Manchester United umbrella has altered the dynamic around his future.That Rashford might not fit the blueprint of Ruben Amorim – who has now responded to Rashford’s comments – was not exactly a surprise.The Portuguese coach prefers a 3-4-3 formation but appears to have settled on Rasmus Hojlund as his starting central striker and wants two “narrow” inside forwards, with the width coming from the wing-backs.Rashford has always wanted to play through the middle but is often at his best exploiting spaces out wide – and that skillset does not necessarily suit the way Amorim wants to play.READ MORE ON MAN UTDEven so, going public with his evident dissatisfaction at being bombed entirely from the squad for the Manchester derby was a major move, even if he vowed there would be “no hard feelings” if he does leave his boyhood club.In truth, Rashford has been leaving United almost from the moment he signed that new £325,000 per week contract in 2023.Something was broken in his connection to the club. His form dropped, his threat dissipated, his issues with the hierarchy deepened.When Erik ten Hag dropped him for hosting a birthday party after a derby defeat, and he later pulled a sickie to miss the FA Cup game with Newport, it felt even then that the writing was on the wall.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe facts suggest the love affair has ended. After scoring 30 in all competitions to earn that new deal, he has scored just 15 in the 18 months since it was signed.Amorim’s arrival seems merely to have accelerated what was increasingly inevitable.Gary Neville hits out at ‘Moping’ Rashford and Garnacho and has heated argument with Micah Richards live on Sky Sports Now, though, it is up to Rashford to determine what his future will bring.If it is only about the money, then his options might be somewhat limited.It is hard to see a Prem rival coughing up the same £16.9m annual salary – although Rashford’s comments have probably knocked £20m-plus off any transfer fee, even next month.But Real Madrid have their fill of big-money strikers and Barcelona’s budget remains restricted by La Liga financial controls.In Europe, then, that probably leaves PSG – but a move to a one-club league.Or, in the wider world, he could follow the likes of Ivan Toney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Firmino and Co and head to the Saudi desert.Lucrative, yep. Certainly a different environment – and that may be exactly what Rashford both wants and needs. But the football? Not in a million years.What Rashford needs, above all, is to be able to play for trophies and showcase his talents.There is no better stage than the Premier League – which has far more global eyeballs on it than any other domestic competition.And in that Premier League there is one club crying out for a goalscoring No 9, especially if he can also play down the left channel to balance out the side and widen its threat.Rashford has always been more Longsight than London.Yet Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta, might be the perfect fit.The Gunners’ lack of a proper scorer is one of the major factors many fans feel has hurt their title challenge this year.Gabriel Jesus has never been a natural finisher, while Kai Havertz is still a converted midfielder.And while the link-up between Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka makes their right flank deadly, faith in Gabriel Martinelli on the left is waning.There have not been too many who succeeded at Arsenal after leaving United – although Danny Welbeck was not a flop.READ MORE SUN STORIESRashford has all the attributes to change that history, if he can reproduce what everybody knows is inside him.And by breaking free, giving himself the chance to start all over, Rashford can make a point to Amorim that will resonate for a very long time. More

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      Chelsea and Josh Acheampong finally end contract stand-off as England wonderkid signs five-year deal

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      CHELSEA’S contract stand-off with Josh Acheampong has ended after the England wonderkid signed a new five-year deal.Enzo Maresca was desperate to tie the 18-year-old down on fresh terms following several dramatic months.Chelsea starlet Josh Acheampong has signed a new five-year dealCredit: GettyAfter a Carabao Cup cameo at the start of the season, Acheampong was frozen out by Chelsea after failing to agree an extension.Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were all reportedly keen on signing the versatile defender, whose deal was due to expire in 2026.But a breakthrough in talks came last month, allowing Acheampong to return to Chelsea first-team training.He then played all 90 minutes of the 3-1 Conference League win in Kazakhstan against Astana on Thursday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd now, the Athletic reports he has now put pen to paper on a new five-year deal with a bumper pay rise.It’s reckoned Acheampong was presented with a clear vision for his development to the starting XI, with the teen previously unsure of the route following Todd Boehly’s £1.2billion spending spree.Another injury to captain Reece James has freed up a space for the England U20s star on the right.While his ability to play centre-back could come in handy with Wesley Fofana also crocked.Most read in FootballAcheampong could now celebrate his new deal with a starting spot in Chelsea’s final Conference League group game against Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.The Blues have already qualified for the next stage and know that a draw is likely good enough to finish in top spot.Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk facing FOUR YEAR ban after failing drugs testAcheampong burst onto the scene in May with his Premier League debut from the bench in a 2-0 win against Tottenham.He played a big role in Chelsea’s U18s becoming Southern Champions last term too.And the whiz will be hoping that more senior appearances will soon result in a call-up to England’s U21s. More

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      ‘He is right’ – Ruben Amorim responds to Marcus Rashford’s Man Utd transfer bombshell about wanting ‘new challenge’

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      RUBEN AMORIM insists Marcus Rashford is going nowhere and told him: You’re already in the right place for a new challenge.The Manchester United striker effectively admitted the time had come to move on in a stunning interview after he and Alejandro Garnacho were axed for Sunday’s derby.Ruben Amorim reckons Marcus Rashford ‘is right’ after the Man Utd star’s transfer exit commentsCredit: GettyYet manager Amorim says the door is far from slammed on Rashford’s Old Trafford career – and he is convinced there is still a future for him at his boyhood club.The United chief admitted: “I think he’s right – we have a new challenge here, and it is a tough one, for me the biggest in football.“We are in a difficult situation and this is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so THIS is a new challenge, a big one.”If Rashford was to move on, the only serious chance of matching his £350,000-a-week wages would be at Paris St Germain.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOtherwise it would mean a hefty drop to his basic salary…or heading for the footballing wilderness of Saudi Arabia.Yet for Amorim, it isn’t an issue he will have to address, because he intends to keep Rashford.He added: “Of course, because this kind of club needs big talent and he’s a big talent, so he just needs to perform at the highest level and that is my focus. I just want to help Marcus.“I have not spoken to him yet, because yesterday I gave a day off to the lads. But he is our player and ready for the next game.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“What I want is to take the best stuff of Marcus Rashford as the player, so I don’t talk about the future, I just talk about the present.“I want the best of each one of them and that is the key point for me, I just want to win and to help the team be better.’It doesn’t look good’ – Roy Keane tips Marcus Rashford for Man Utd transfer exit after he is DROPPED for City clash“We are better with Marcus, that is simple and we will try different things to push Marcus to the best levels he showed in the past. That’s all.”Amorim’s main focus is on tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup trip to Spurs – and he expects a reaction from both Rashford and Garnacho if they feature.He said: “Of course I do – I expect the best of each player every day so we will see after training.“We have one more training session, but it’s the same situation of all the other players. If they train well then I have to make a choice. We will see at the end of that.“My focus is to have all the players in the best that they can be to prepare for each game. There is no ‘if, if, if’ at this kind of club, it is just Tottenham so let’s focus on this game.”Man Utd player ratings vs Man City as sensational Amad Diallo turns derby on its headAMAD DIALLO left Manchester City stunned as he turned the derby on its head.The flying winger won a penalty, converted by Bruno Fernandes, in the dying embers to level it up.But the best was yet to come as Amad flicked past an onrushing Ederson before expertly slotting in a dramatic winner from a tight angle deep into injury time.Here’s how SunSport’s Neil Custis rated the Man Utd players…Andre Onana – 6He just does not fill you with confidence. Does not command his area and as we found out midweek in Plzen, his distribution from the back is a major plus for the opposition.Wasn’t tested that much however.Lisandro Martinez – 7Looking a calmer presence under Amorim than he did before when he seemed to want to live up to his nickname from his Ajax days of ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam’.Great through ball at the end to pick out Amad’s run for the winner.Harry Maguire – 8Had a great battle with Erling Haaland which the United man won.The right call to bring the former captain in for such a big game. Looks like he suits the position in the centre of that back three.Matthijs de Ligt 78′ – 7A decent enough performance. Looked more comfortable alongside Maguire than other centre-back partners.Diogo Dalot – 5Mistimed his jump to be beaten to the ball by Josko Gvardiol for the City opener. Did not create enough going forward from his wing-back role.Bruno Fernandes – 8Missed a big chance after being put through by Hojlund and clipping the ball wide.But when the moment comes from the penalty spot he is a cool head in the hottest of atmospheres sending Ederson the wrong way to equaliseManuel Ugarte – 7Sat in front of the back four and negated much of what Phil Foden was trying to do for the home side.Noussair Mazraoui 78′ – 8The best of the summer buys. Used as the right wing back on this occasion and is able to adjust to whatever is asked of him. One of United’s best performers on the day.Mason Mount 13′ – 6Looked very close to tears when he had to come off after early in the game. He is just getting no luck whatsoever with injuries and has not had a decent run since joining the club.Amad Diallo 90′ – 9The greatest moment of his career so far with a memorable derby winner. A brilliant run first of all to meet Martinez’ pass, he then clipped the ball past Ederson and while it was a scuffed finish he got it on target.Had almost grabbed an equaliser with a flick header before that which was well saved by Ederson.Then was alert to Nunes back pass to win the penalty that did lead to United drawing level.Rasmus Hojlund 78′ – 6Most we saw of him was a head to head confrontation with Walker when the City player slumped to the ground and a little fall of his own when he tried to win a pen.But then he provided a great through ball for Fernandes which should have brought the equaliser.SubsKobbie Mainoo 13′ – 6Did a solid job as he came on in a deeper role than Mount and Fernandes moved forwardJoshua Zirkzee 78′ – 6Not the man who is going to come on and change a game, but he did well to hold onto possession in the closing seconds.Antony 78′ – 6Came on to try and make a difference but is lacking the confidence which a lack of starts brings.Leny Yoro 78′ – 6Continues to ease himself back to full fitness after that summer injury.Victor Lindelof 90′ – 6No time to have any influence on the game. More

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      Five clubs Marcus Rashford could join after bombshell transfer revelation Man Utd star ‘wants a new challenge’

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      MARCUS RASHFORD sensationally threw his future into doubt by revealing he is ready for a “new challenge”. The boyhood Manchester United fan and player was dropped for his side’s 2-1 win at the Etihad against rivals City.Marcus Rashford sensationally threw his Man Utd future into doubtCredit: GettyAnd that came amid speculation the club are ready to sell the England international. Now in an interview with journalist Henry Winter, he said: “For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.”When I leave it’s going to be ‘no hard feelings’. You’re not going to have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That’s me as a person.”If I know that a situation is already bad I’m not going to make it worse.READ MORE IN football “I’ve seen how other players have left in the past and I don’t want to be that person.”When I leave, I’ll make a statement, and it will be from me.”He had previously been linked with the Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain when his deal was due to end in 2023.However, he stayed at Old Trafford after extending his contract last year.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHowever his future is now up in the air, with new manager Ruben Amorim axing him from last weekend’s Manchester derby.Rashford, 27, was left out of the squad for Manchester United’s victory over Manchester City along with Alejandro Garnacho.The omission has come amid speculation that he could be sold by the Red Devils.Sky Germany have reported that Man United “would sell” Rashford by the summer at the latest.It is also claimed that the club are “open to top offers” during the upcoming January transfer window.With Rashford’s future on the line, here SunSport looks at five teams he could join.PSG The French champions have been heavily linked with Rashford over the past few seasons. And PSG are yet to fully replace Neymar on the left-wing, opening up the opportunity for Rashford to do so. Gary Neville hits out at ‘Moping’ Rashford and Garnacho and has heated argument with Micah Richards live on Sky Sports Bayern Munich The German giants were linked with Rashford earlier in the season, just after the summer window. England skipper Harry Kane could help tempt over Rashford but he would have heavy competition in Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry. Barcelona The Spanish champs reportedly turned their attention to Rashford after missing out on the signing of Nico Williams last summer. Barcelona are stocked up on wide options but with Robert Lewandowski now 36, Rashford’s ability to play centrally could be key. Arsenal The Gunners have never shied away from signing stars from rivals, recently Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling from Chelsea. And if Rashford wants to remain in the Premier League, a move to Arsenal under Mikel Arteta could attract the forward. Chelsea An outsider could be a move to West London – like Rashford’s former United team-mate Jadon Sancho did last summer. READ MORE SUN STORIESBut, Chelsea are well served on the left with Sancho, Joao Felix and Pedro Neto all playing on that flank this campaign.However winger Mykhailo Mudryk is also currently suspended and faces a potential ban of up to four years after failing a drug test. More

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      Mykhailo Mudryk banned from training with Chelsea team-mates as fresh details emerge on shock drug scandal

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      MYKHAILO MUDRYK is unable to train with his Chelsea team-mates as fresh details surrounding his drug scandal emerge.The Ukrainian has been provisionally suspended from football and faces up to a FOUR-YEAR ban after failing a doping test.Mykhailo Mudryk is unable to train with his Chelsea team-mates amid his drug scandalCredit: GettyMudryk – who could end up costing the Blues £88.5million – provided a positive result for an A-sample in late October. The winger and Chelsea are now awaiting the result of the B-sample, which will confirm the original test if it also comes back positive.Mudryk is believed to have tested positive for meldonium, a banned metabolic substance similar to insulin.It can apparently allow the body to “use oxygen sparingly and quickly restore energy to prepare for new loads of physical stress.”READ MORE IN football Meldonium is widely used in Eastern Europe and has been on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016.Tennis star Maria Sharapova was banned for 15 months after testing positive for meldonium at the Australian Open that same year.According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Mudryk is unable to train at Cobham due to his provisional suspension.Mudryk categorically denies intentional wrongdoing and passed a test in August and has a specialist law firm dealing with the matter.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe positive A-test occurred on international duty and it’s reported the player believes contamination caused the result.Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been kept in the loop but is not dealing with the matter day-by-day. ‘I’m getting emotional’ – England manager Thomas Tuchel’s comments on Cole Palmer leave Chelsea fans close to tearsMaresca referred to Mudryk as ill and it is understood the forward did return from international duty sick.The maximum punishment he faces is a four-year ban but Paul Pogba had his reduced to 18 months and is eligible to play again in March. Sharapova had her two-year suspension reduced to 15 months.Mudryk has made 15 appearances this season, with three goals all scored in the Europa Conference League. The positive A-test occurred on international dutyCredit: Getty More

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      Premier League stadium looks unrecognisable in incredible new plans to redevelop main stand

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      CRYSTAL PALACE have given a major update on plans to redevelop Selhurst Park.The Eagles are looking to build a new main stand and construction work is set to begin at the end of this season.Crystal Palace are set to build a new main standCredit: Crystal Palace/MDCConstruction work will begin at the end of this seasonCredit: Crystal Palace FCA new away changing room is also being builtCredit: Crystal Palace/MDCAn extra 8,000 fans will fit inside Selhurst ParkCredit: GettyThe redevelopment will take the stadium’s capacity from 26,000 to 34,000.There will be improved hospitality and disabled seating areas, with a club museum also added.Palace have announced today that they are in the “final planning phase” and that “enabling works” have already started.This includes new club offices and a new away dressing room being built under the Holmesdale Road stand.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Premier League side have also tweaked the seating plan, fanzone and entrance to the stand since the previous update given in June.Palace are also on the verge of an agreement with Croydon Council over a “construction management plan” that promises minimal disturbances to residents during the building period.Reports state that the project will take two-and-a-half years to complete.And Building Magazine claim the cost of the renovation has soared to £150million.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPalace chairman Steve Parish said in the summer he wants the club to have “a stadium the whole of South London can be proud of”.He added: “The project is a little behind, but there’s a lot more going on that it seems.Eberechi Eze was rejected by SIX teams including Arsenal as fans say ‘absolute stinker in hindsight’“All of the work we are undertaking now – moving offices so everyone, including the Palace Foundation, is together, building a marketing suite, tanking the Holmesdale basement to build temporary away dressing rooms — these are all essential steps.”We need to increase the revenues of the club.”We need to generate the turnover and move into the same income as the other clubs with larger stadiums – Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham – some of which are looking to expand. It’s so important we keep up.“It’s about doing the right things for the club over the long-term, including performing as well as we can on the pitch.” More

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      Inside the spiralling career of Mykhailo Mudryk, from Arsenal and Chelsea transfer tussle to doping scandal

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      MYKHAILO MUDRYK’S Chelsea career went from bad to worse with news of his failed drugs test.The Ukrainian winger, 23, tested positive for a banned substance in October and is set for a lengthy ban.Mykhailo Mudryk arrived for £88m amid much fanfare in January 2023Credit: ReutersHe failed a drugs test in the latest twist in his struggling Blues careerCredit: GettyMudryk denied knowingly taking the drug – alleged to be performance-enhancing meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list in 2016. And he could now face a suspension of up to four years in a shock and devastating blow. It is a stark fall for the highly-rated rising star at the centre of an almighty transfer tussle between London’s two biggest clubs.Arsenal looked set to complete a £97million deal in January 2023 – and the player himself seemingly had his heart set on the Emirates – only for Chelsea to hijack the transfer at the final hour.READ MORE ON CHELSEAThe Blues paid an initial £62m to Shakhtar Donetsk for lightning-quick Mudryk, although add-ons could take it up to a whopping £88m, leaving Ian Wright gutted. And with his salary at Stamford Bridge a reported £100,000 per week, the eight-and-a-half-year contract he put pen to paper on was worth a staggering £44m in wages. Despite the big money involved, though, Mudryk has failed to live up to the hype. The keen darts and table tennis ace showed flashes of brilliance when he came on against Liverpool for his debut but had failed to score a single goal for Chelsea by the end of the 2022-23 season.Most read in FootballHis woeful early stats even prompted the unfortunate nickname “007” – in reference to zero goals and zero assists in his first seven games. And his settling-in time was no doubt hindered by criticism within weeks of his arrival in the Premier League when it emerged he had used the racist N-word in a TikTok video viewed more than 213,000 times.Mykhailo Mudryk reveals his cheat meal and best Chelsea pals in Q&A What drug did Mudryk take?By SunSport’s Joshua JonesMYKHAILO MUDRYK returned a positive sample for a drugs test in October.The Chelsea winger could face a ban for up to four years – because the drug was a performance-enhancing substance.It is alleged Mudryk had the drug meldonium in his system.Meldonium – aka mildronate – is a metabolic modulator similar to insulin and is widely used in Eastern Europe.It is used in heart disease therapy but is also claimed to enable athletes to withstand greater stress, use oxygen more sparingly and restore energy levels quickly.Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list in January 2016 following its high prevalence at the 2015 European Games in Baku.Just months later, former tennis world No1 and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation – although this was later cut to 15 months on appeal.Sharapova had been taking the drug for ten years for various health issues and claimed she was unaware it had been added to the banned list.Also in 2016, Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin was found to have traces of meldonium in his system before he was due to fight fellow heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder.Mudryk was reciting lyrics from rapper Lil Baby’s 2017 song Freestyle in the clip with a pal but was slammed by fans and anti-racism group Kick It Out.The footballer issued a grovelling apology and removed the post from his social media profile.Mudryk eventually found the net against Fulham in October 2023 but just a couple of weeks later, then-boss Mauricio Pochettino dug his underperforming winger out in the media.Blunt Poch said: “He needs to improve. He is still not at his best.”And it appears Chelsea fans have not seen – and indeed may never see – the best of Mykhailo Mudryk. He finished last season with seven goals and two assists in 41 appearances across all competitions and has added three in 15 so far this term – with each of those strikes coming in the Conference League – to take his overall Chelsea tally to ten in 73.New manager Enzo Maresca is clearly not keen, handing him just one Premier League start.How long are drugs bans in football?By SunSport’s Joshua JonesMYKHAILO MUDRYK could be banned for up to four years after failing a drugs testBut what are the rules regarding drugs in football?There is a big difference between recreational drugs and performance-enhancing substances.Recreational drugs – such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, LSD and MDMA – carry a six-month suspension.However, this ban can increase to up to two years if a drug is detected when a player is tested after a match.But performance-enhancing drugs carry a far more severe punishment.And crucially the alleged drug Mudryk tested positive for, meldonium, falls under that category.The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code’s standard ban is four years.That is how long Paul Pogba was suspended for following his failed drugs test – although it was later reduced on appeal to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.The FA follows the UK Anti-Doping code under the WADA authority so will follow their lead and procedures.Should Mudryk’s follow-up secondary ‘B’ sample also test positive, he is likely to be hit with at least an 18-month ban but it could be as high as four years.The only person in football currently banned on the UKAD sanctions list for anti-doping rule violations is Craig Campbell.The former Scottish striker was banned for four years in December 2022 after being convicted of dealing cocaine. And now it does not seem highly coincidental that Mudryk missed the last four Chelsea games through “illness” before the news of his drugs test failure. On the international stage, Mudryk has been a main man for Ukraine in recent years and scored the goal to send his war-torn nation to Euro 2024. But his club career may have looked very different indeed.In the summer transfer window just six months after arriving in England, Chelsea reportedly rejected offers for the wide man before Bayern Munich failed in a shock last-ditch bid to land Mudryk in January. Now the West Londoners could face a legal minefield working out what to do with their flop.In theory, Mudryk could be banned until 2029 if and when his suspension is confirmed.READ MORE SUN STORIESBy the time he returns, he would still only be just turning 28 and have three years left on his bumper contract. But what the career of Mykhailo Mudryk looks like when that time comes is completely unclear. Mudryk has struggled to win over new boss Enzo MarescaCredit: GettyHis best performances this term have come in the Conference LeagueCredit: GettyThe winger could be 28 by the time he is allowed to play football againCredit: Getty More