Chelsea happy to have Morris and Terry back

Chelsea will welcome John Terry and Jody Morris back into the Stamford Bridge fold following their acquittal yesterday on all charges after a nightclub brawl last January. But neither will be involved in this evening's first home Premiership game of the season against Manchester United. The future is less clear for the Wimbledon reserve defender Des Byrne, who was found guilty of having an offensive weapon – a bottle – and was fined £2,000.

A statement from Chelsea said: "We welcome the outcome and the verdict and we look forward to John Terry and Jody Morris rejoining the squad."

Both players have, however, been suffering from injuries in the pre-season period and are not yet fully fit. The trial has also taken a mental toll, according to their solicitors. Amid chaotic scenes outside Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court, Terry's legal representative said that the former England Under-21 captain had been "under enormous stress and strain over the past eight months because of some monstrous and outrageous allegations that he took a bottle to a bouncer".

Morris issued a statement saying: "I'm angry and upset that I've had this allegation hanging over me. I've been training every night after court and I wish to go back to my preparations for the season ahead."

Despite the club's public support, it would not be a surprise if the patience of the manager, Claudio Ranieri, who is used to handling Italian and Spanish players with rather greater self-discipline, was wearing thin. As soon as the incident at London's Wellington Club came to light, the two players were fined a fortnight's wages each by the club. "They broke club rules by being in a nightclub at 1.30am, less than 48 hours before a match," said the club's chief executive at the time, Colin Hutchinson.

It was not the first warning for either player, both of whom were among the Chelsea quartet who admitted to drunken behaviour a year ago in a Heathrow hotel where American tourists were grieving for those killed on 11 September.

Terry said that he had learnt his lesson. "We've learnt from it that we have to be careful. It's something I'll keep with me and keep reminding myself of over the years," he said.

Within a month, he was attracting complaints from customers at the Wellington with his close friend Morris, who had been in similar trouble even before that.

Two years ago, after another incident at a nightclub, the Chelsea chairman, Ken Bates, publicly demanded that he should change his lifestyle, warning him: "Forget the flash cars and nightclubs." In a match programme, Bates wrote: "If you really dedicate yourself, you could become one of the Chelsea greats."

For a while it seemed Morris had taken the advice. That season (1999-2000) was his most successful to date, with 30 Premiership appearances, a long run as a first-choice midfielder and an FA Cup winner's medal. He also won the last of his seven England Under-21 international caps. By last season, struggling with an ankle injury, he started only two first-team games.

Terry paid a heavy price for his involvement in the Wellington case. The impending trial put him out of contention for England's World Cup squad, for which he had been tipped as a strong contender. He must now hope to be fit in time for England's opening friendly, against Portugal on 7 September.

"We are delighted at the outcome of the trial," Bates said. "Jody Morris and John Terry have suffered eight months of agony. The matter is now over."

Wimbledon would not comment on Byrne's future. Since joining them two years ago, he has appeared only once for the first-team, as a substitute in the final game of last season.