Four months since his last club appearance for EFL Championship side Watford, Caleb Wiley made his long-awaited return to action.

Wiley played the final 18 minutes of Watford’s 1-0 league defeat to rivals Millwall at the Den on Monday night. The 20-year-old rejoined Watford from English Premier League side Chelsea on loan for the 2025-26 season, which provides him with a strong chance of playing ample minutes.

In his first appearance since May’s season finale vs. Sheffield Wednesday, Wiley was pleased to get back out on the field.

“It has been a long time coming,” Wiley said in a club interview after Watford’s Monday defeat. “I’ve been eager to get back out on the pitch as it’s been a few months, so it felt good to be back, but it was unfortunate for the result.

“Hopefully, we can turn that around next weekend,” he added.

Wiley missed Watford’s opening six matches in all competitions this season due to an adductor muscle injury. The U.S. men’s national team full back/wing back delivered a lively cameo at the Den on Monday, coming close to equalizing for Paulo Pezzolano’s side late in the second half.

With Watford sitting just outside of the relegation zone on goal difference and Saturday’s showdown with Hull City looming, Wiley knows the importance of getting back on track quickly this fall.

“It is a short turnaround, so we have got to be ready and be better,” Wiley said. “The fans deserve so much more, as do we.”

Watford will also visit Portsmouth on October 4 before hosting Oxford United seven days later in its final match before the international break.