Moises Caicedo was absent from Chelsea’s training session, along with Jorrel Hato and Jamie Gittens, as Xabi Alonso’s men prepare for their Premier League clash against Sunderland on Sunday. The first 15 minutes of training were open to the press, and none of these three players was seen. However, players are sometimes not seen in this period, as they will often train indoors or on their own.
Hato’s situation is the least clear. He was taken off in the second half of Chelsea’s 2-0 home loss to Tottenham on October 24, and Alonso later revealed he has a back problem but could not say how long he would be out. He missed the clash with Manchester United as a result. Jamie Gittens has been out since he suffered an ankle injury on international duty with England’s Under-21s in September. This has left a lack of options on the left for the Blues, with Morgan Rogers carrying most of the load there.
However, Caicedo is the main concern. The Ecuadorian captained the side against Manchester United last weekend but has had a shaky start to his season with a calf issue. Joao Pedro is also out with a thigh injury, which Alonso expects to keep him out for a few weeks. He could return for their home game against Leeds on November 21. Alonso will be speaking to the press on Friday, so we should have a clearer idea of the players’ situations.
Emiliano Martinez Back In Training As Goalkeeper Nears Return From Jaw Surgery
There was some positive news for Alonso, as Emiliano Martinez has returned to training. Martinez has been out since he suffered a broken jaw in a clash with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 17.
He had to have surgery, and Mike Penders has stepped in. Penders has had a mixed time in goal, scoring an own goal in the defeat to Tottenham but keeping a clean sheet against Manchester United.
Martinez has been called up to Argentina’s squad for their November internationals, suggesting he is close to full fitness. However, it has not been decided whether he will feature at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.