Xabi Alonso is facing a series of tough decisions regarding his line-up selection with Chelsea making the short trip to the Gtech Community Stadium to take on Brentford on Friday night
Marco Palestra
Marco Palestra is still waiting to make his official Chelsea debut(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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Chelsea supporters are facing an anxious wait when it comes to an update on Moises Caicedo.
The Ecuador international has featured just once this season - a cameo appearance against Brighton at the end of last month - due to a calf injury. Xabi Alonso said last week that there was some hope that Caicedo will be fit enough to feature against Brentford on Friday evening but the midfielder has not been spotted in any of Chelsea 's training photos released in recent days.
Since Alonso took over as manager in the summer, news on the injury front has been increasingly difficult to come by, with the Spaniard determined to ensure nothing leaks from his squad. That means Alonso's press conference this afternoon (Thursday) will be our best shot of getting an update on Caicedo and hopefully find out if he can play away at the Bees.
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With that being said, football.london 's Bobby Vincent and Jake Stokes discuss what they would do in terms of the line-up if they were Alonso. And the two have reached an agreement on Caicedo.
Bobby Vincent
I think Alonso will revert back to a 3-4-3 formation at the Gtech Community Stadium. Emi Martinez in goal is an easy one but in front of him, it becomes trickier to decide.
Maxence Lacroix should return to the defence. Either side of the France international might be Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill, with Pedro Neto and Pep Chavarria the two wing-backs.
Pedro Neto celebrates
Pedro Neto celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Leeds United(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
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Jorrel Hato and Malo Gusto had poor games against Hull City last time out and deserve to be dropped to the bench for the trip to Brentford. In an ideal world, Marco Palestra would occupy one of the wing-back spots but the Blues might want to be a bit cautious and careful when it comes to the Italian's fitness - if he is indeed fit enough to return to the squad.
In midfield, I think it's time to give Valentin Barco a run. The Argentina international has impressed in his cup appearances, as well as coming off the bench on numerous occasions in the Premier League, and should come in for Romeo Lavia.
If Caicedo is anything less than 95% fit, I would be tempted to keep him on the bench. However, given he hasn't been in any of the training photos, it wouldn't surprise you if he was not in the squad come Friday evening.
The front three is the front three. It's as simple as that. Estevao Willian can be an option from the bench.
Bobby's XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, James, Barco, Chavarria; Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro
Jake Stokes
Alonso could make as many as three much-needed changes to the starting line-up when Chelsea face Brentford on Friday night. When the Blues manager selects his side, he needs to find a balance between penalising those who disappointed in the draw to Hull last weekend and picking the right profiles to nullify the Bees.
Martinez should remain between the sticks, with Fofana, Lacroix, and Colwill in the back three, from right to left. Fofana didn't have the desired impact as a central centre-back, but he'll have a key role to play as a right centre-back at the Gtech.
Although Neto has done well at right wing-back this season, I wouldn't be surprised if he's replaced by Josh Acheampong on this one occasion. In doing so, Chelsea could be a little tighter at the back and better equipped, physically, to deal with the barrage of long balls, crosses, and corners into the box.
Chavarria should start in place of Gusto. In the middle of the park, it would be great to see Caicedo and Barco, or even Jordan Henderson, at some point, but I think Reece James and Lavia will remain in the double pivot.
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson could make his Chelsea debut against his former club Brentford(Image: Ryan Pierse)
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It should go without saying that the frontline remains unchanged, too. It would be nice to see Estevao and Geovany Quenda in some capacity off the bench, though.
Jake's XI (3-4-3): Martinez; Fofana, Lacroix, Colwill; Acheampong, James, Lavia, Chavarria; Palmer, Rogers, Joao Pedro