Chelsea Handed Caicedo Boost but Gittens Ruled Out for Weeks

Xabi Alonso says Moises Caicedo is fit and ready to play against Bournemouth on Saturday, but Chelsea have lost winger Jamie Gittens to an ankle injury for a few weeks.

Speaking before the game, the Chelsea boss said the midfielder has used the break to get back to full fitness after his recent muscle problems. 

“Finally, you have been asking this question and we have used the time with Moises to get him back fit,” Alonso said with a smile. “He is okay to go.”

The bad news is Gittens, who came back from international duty with a problem. “He is not going to be fit for tomorrow. That is the bad news about this international break,” Alonso revealed. He added: “He picked an injury on his ankle and he is going to be out for a few weeks.”

Alonso also owned up to getting things wrong with Caicedo earlier in the season, saying he brought the player back too soon. “We did not want to take risks for Brentford because we did against Brighton, I did myself and I said ‘Xabi you did it wrong’,” he said.

He admitted the team felt the gap without the midfielder. “For sure any team will miss a player of his quality, his importance, his dynamic,” Alonso said. As for the player now, he said: “Now he feels much better.”

There was good news elsewhere in the squad too. Joao Pedro, Reece James and Marco Palestra all trained fully at Cobham this week.

With Gittens out, younger players could get a chance to step in. Alonso pointed to academy defender Josh Acheampong, saying: “He is playing more mature, more aggressive, knowing what it takes to compete in the Premier League.”

He also had a word on Brazilian winger Estevao Willian and his playing time. “We know the demand of the Premier League. He will have his moments and more minutes,” Alonso said.

Chelsea will hope the refreshed squad can start strongly against Bournemouth on Saturday.