Chelsea have been dealt a new fitness concern after Moises Caicedo did not feature in the first 15 minutes of the Blues’ open training session on Wednesday. James Savundra of Sky Sports reported the Ecuador international was missing from the session as they gear up to face Sunderland on Sunday.
While there is no confirmation of an injury, it can often be the case that players coming back from a long lay-off will have their own individual programme in place. It makes sense to be cautious with the 25-year-old. A calf issue picked up just days before the season opener kept him out of the first two games. When he returned for a cameo against Brighton in August, he lasted only 14 minutes before the problem flared up again. He then sat out for over a month before coming back after the first international break and has started every game since.
Last week the midfielder played three games over the space of seven days. This included the league loss to Tottenham, the Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss at Anfield and the 2-0 victory against Manchester United on Saturday. He was substituted after 68 minutes at Liverpool, but Alonso was quick to point out there was no issue, and he captained the side against United.
If Caicedo isn’t available, then Romeo Lavia and Jordan Henderson look like the obvious choices to start in midfield. Lavia started the game against United alongside Caicedo, and Henderson has returned to training after missing the United game due to illness.
‘One of the Best Holding Players in the World’ – Xabi Alonso Praises Moises Caicedo
Caicedo’s importance to Alonso’s plans was clear even prior to his calf issues. The Spanish boss met the midfielder face-to-face for the first time during the pre-season tour in Sydney, shortly after Ecuador played in the World Cup. Alonso said at a press conference in Sydney:
“From the outside, you see his quality, his heart, his mentality. He is a top player, one of the best holding players in the world, no doubt.”
This is why every time Caicedo misses training, it causes fans to worry. In the first 12 games under Alonso, they have had different midfield partnerships and have struggled to find consistency in the centre of the park. If they lose their most consistent anchor, this problem will worsen.