Chelsea
Chelsea are still waiting for Moises Caicedo to return to full fitness after the midfielder featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Portsmouth. Although the Ecuador international is making progress, the club are keen to avoid another setback with his calf problem as he works towards a return to football, as per latest injury news.
Moises Caicedo takes another step towards return
Moises Caicedo has been working towards a comeback after aggravating a calf injury that has disrupted his season. His last competitive appearance for Chelsea came in the 4-3 victory over Brighton in late August, and he has not yet returned to the first team.
The 24-year-old recently played against Portsmouth in a private friendly designed to help players regain match fitness during the international break. However, he was given limited minutes and did not play for an entire half. This shows that Chelsea are taking a careful approach to his recovery.
As reported by football.london, the session was part of the club’s efforts to increase Caicedo’s workload gradually. Chelsea lost the match 2-0, but the result was not considered a major concern because the fixture also gave younger players a chance and allowed the coaching staff to test different approaches.
The game was not limited to players returning from injury. Several senior figures were involved while much of the first-team group was away on international duty. Some struggled to make an impact, though the main priority was fitness and preparation rather than the final score.
Chelsea remain cautious over Caicedo
Despite his progress, Caicedo is not expected to be ready for Chelsea’s next match against Bournemouth. Head coach Xabi Alonso is likely to face questions about the midfielder’s condition before the game, but the club do not want to rush him back before he is ready.
Caicedo’s importance to Chelsea makes his absence a significant concern. He protects the defence, wins possession and helps the team control the midfield. His return could provide much-needed balance as the Blues look to improve their results in the Premier League.
Chelsea have conceded 12 goals in their first five league matches, leaving them with a defensive record they will want to improve. Caicedo’s presence in front of the back four could help address some of those problems, although his return alone will not solve the team’s wider defensive issues.
The club’s priority is to make sure the midfielder can handle the demands of competitive matches without aggravating his calf again. He previously made the problem worse during the Brighton game, so the medical staff will want to see clear signs of recovery before approving his return.
Chelsea
Caicedo’s Chelsea stats for the 2025/26 season, as per FOTMOB–
Competition Appearances Passing Accuracy(%) Recoveries Interceptions
Premier League 33 91.7% 177 59
EFL Cup 3 90.7% 14 2
FA Cup 4 91.2% 19 19
Champions League 10 93.5% 59 9
Club World Cup 5 91.5% 29 4
Alonso expects more from his midfield star
Alonso has already made clear how highly he rates Caicedo. During pre-season, the Chelsea manager praised the midfielder’s ability, attitude and quality in a defensive role, describing him as “one of the best holding midfielders in the world.”
The manager also praised Caicedo’s attitude and said he was keen to work with him. This shows how important the midfielder could be to Alonso’s plans once he is fit. For now, Chelsea will increase his playing time slowly instead of rushing him back. The friendly against Portsmouth was a good step, but it does not mean he is ready for a competitive game. The Blues will check Caicedo’s fitness again before he returns to full training. The club will hope this extra time helps him recover well and avoid another setback this season.
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