Estevao
Estevao | NurPhoto/GettyImages
Chelsea players will breathe a sigh of relief at the international break, with the pause in club football giving four players the chance to reset, rebuild their confidence and make the most of their time away from Stamford Bridge.
The next couple of weeks could provide exactly what each of them needs: a return to competitive football, a chance to complete a full 90 minutes or simply some much-needed time to recover. There are plenty of reasons why, for these four Chelsea players, the international break may have arrived at just the right time.
Here are the four players:
Number 1. Reece James
Just when most Chelsea fans thought that club captain Reece James was getting an extended run in the side after having a torrid time with injuries, he missed the Blues' game against Brentford on Friday through a hamstring injury, something that has haunted the 26 year-old throughout his Chelsea career.
If fully fit, he would have most likely made Thomas Tuchel's squad for their upcoming Nations League games, but would've given him more chance to get himself hurt again and be out for an even longer period of time.
This international break allows James to recover from this setback. If he is out for longer than initially reported, then he can recover and get back to full fitness ready for what is set to be a busier part of the season.
Number 2. Estevao
When Chelsea signed Estevao from Palmeiras, they knew that they signed someone who could become a world-class player, and the Brazilian showed glimpses of that last season, making 36 appearances last season, getting 12 goal involvements.
But he never really nailed a spot in the starting 11, only starting 20 of those games last season, but the majority of his contributions came off the bench when the Blues were chasing games and needed more inpetus.
Estevao has been called up for Carlo Ancelotti's recent Brazil squad, and this could give him some much-needed game time, having only played 23 Premier League minutes so far this season, putting in some good performances would do him no harm in impressing Xabi Alonso in an aid to force himself into his starting lineup.
Number 3. Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo has typically, in his time at Chelsea, been one of their most dependable players, only missing two games through injury or illness in his three years at the club, so missing time if it isnt through suspension isn't something that the Ecuadorian is used too.
But this season seems to have been a different story so far, only being seen on the pitch for 14 minutes, having struggled with a calf injury, so for Caicedo and Chelsea this international break has come at a good time.
This allows Caicedo to regain his fitness and fully recover from what's kept him from playing for the early part of this season, because when he's on it, he's one of Chelsea's most influential players, and both Chelsea and the fans miss him, and that's been on show so far this season, having no control in games and getting overrun in the midfield.
Number 4. Levi Colwill
Before Levi Colwill tore his Cruciate ligament in the pre-season of 2025/26, he was put in very high regard at Chelsea as a possible future captain, after impressing during his introduction into the squad, but since then Colwill hasn't really been the same.
Most Chelsea fans can agree that Colwill hasn't has the best start to the season, being at fault for a handful of the goals Chelsea have conceded this season, and came out after the Brentford game saying they "had been bullied in the box."
Colwill was interviewed by Chelsea this week, claiming that they must use this international break to "become a better team," although Colwill wasn't selected by Thomas Tuchel, he will continue to work under Alonso, and making use of it.
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