Playing someone who isn't 100% fit happens almost all the time. Dabo, Rose and Kelly all played last season not 100%. People have to have injections to get through games and know they need surgery but postpone until end of season.
It could well be that the rumour of being a few weeks away was in relation to playing competitive games, not a friendly against a non-league team. They're used as a means of obtaining fitness. There's a sliding scale of fitness, not just 'you are or you aren't'. Jodi was back in training months before he was considered for even the U23's, but if he's fit enough to train surely he's fit enough to play?