Xabi Alonso talk say e really happy to get Moises Caicedo back inside Chelsea starting XI for this afternoon Premier League clash with Bournemouth. The Chelsea captain Reece James no dey today squad, and Alonso explain why. The Blues return to top-flight action after extended international break, with Cherries visiting Stamford Bridge to find first league win of campaign.
Alonso side dey look to bounce back after disappointing result against Brentford last time out. Caicedo return boost that ambition. The Ecuadorian midfielder only make one curtailed substitute appearance this term. But after recovering from injury during international break, he don return to starting XI.
Alonso say: ‘We are really happy Moi is back in the Premier League. He is a top-class player and we were missing him. Now we need to help him with his feelings on the pitch. The same for Joao [Pedro] as well. This is how we have used the time in the international break.’ No James in squad, though, with Alonso explaining: ‘Unfortunately, Reece picked up a little injury yesterday, so we’ll see [in the coming days].’
Alonso dey face familiar foe for dugout this afternoon, as Spaniard don take on Marco Rose during him time coaching Bayer Leverkusen in Bundesliga. Rose never taste Premier League victory, but Alonso know qualities sides coached by German dey possess. Alonso talk: ‘Marco is adapting to his new team. I think many of the ideas they were doing before, he has stayed consistent with. He is a smart coach and was intelligent at Leipzig in the times we played against him. So for sure, today will be a tough game.’
Chelsea later bulldoze Cherries 5-1 for Stamford Bridge to bounce back after three straight winless games in Premier League. Xabi Alonso side deliver best performance of season for first game back after lengthy international window. James no fit represent England during international action as Thomas Tuchel confirm Chelsea captain no dey him roster due to injury. The 26-year-old also miss Chelsea defeat against Brentford right before international break.
On Friday, Alonso reveal him captain return to training and talk say e ‘ready to go’ for match against Bournemouth, so e surprise when James no dey him squad 24 hours later. Alonso offer explanation after match. Unfortunately for Chelsea, e no be great news. Alonso reveal knee injury wey happen in training na reason for James surprise absence from Saturday victory. ‘He felt something in training,’ Alonso talk after match. ‘But after we did the tests later in the afternoon he had some little issues on the knee, so we need to check how long it will be.’
James sustain fresh fitness blow during Chelsea final training session before match against Bournemouth. Although no specific diagnosis, muscular problems believed to be wetin e dey nurse before international break. The knee issue Alonso disclose appear to be entirely new concern, which less than ideal considering na two separate injuries less than two months into campaign. Alonso refuse to put definite timeline for when James go return, simply talk say ‘we need to assess him week by week.’
Best case scenario, Blues fit get captain back when dem visit Everton for next Premier League match in a week time. Without any European competitions for schedule this season, Chelsea get luxury of less busy schedule and more time to rest and recover between matches. However, James extensive injury record fit see Chelsea decide to be extremely cautious with him recovery. The Cobham graduate don miss significant time due to injury throughout him career and club go wise to make sure e return once e completely injury free given him importance for pitch.
As result, e no go surprise at all if James miss clash against Everton, eyeing potential return for home London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Oct. 24. James don operate almost exclusively as central midfielder in infancy of Alonso era. Fortunately for Chelsea, previously injured midfielders no only return to full fitness, dem already dey produce for pitch.
Jordan Henderson and Moises Caicedo form Alonso double-pivot against Bournemouth and thrive, with pair only recently return from injury themselves. For him first Chelsea start at Stamford Bridge, Henderson score brace and pick assist, while Caicedo look solid for him first start of campaign. Alonso delighted with how him starting midfielders perform, and Romeo Lavia also look sharp during him cameo after suffering injury scare during international break. If Alonso also need cover for right-center back or wingback, positions James fit also operate, Josh Acheampong and Pedro Neto also impress on Saturday. Furthermore, summer recruit Marco Palestra make him season debut with 20-minute cameo for wingback.
Chelsea hit Bournemouth for five on Saturday, but affair overshadowed somehow by news of yet another injury setback for Reece James. The Blues come into international break carrying number of fitness headaches, but Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Marco Palestra all recover from respective issues to appear against Cherries. Club captain James thought to be ready to feature alongside them, but e be surprise exclusion from teamsheet at Stamford Bridge.
He now find himself in race against time to be passed fit for next Saturday meeting with Everton, but that fit come too soon. James forced withdraw from international duty last month after suffering hamstring injury in training, but e no make expected return to Chelsea teamsheet on Saturday. After three weeks rest e don return to full team training and expected to start next to Moises Caicedo for midfield, but dem leave am out of matchday squad altogether. Dem reveal ahead of kick-off say e suffer injury in training on Friday, day before kick-off.
Head coach Xabi Alonso talk: ‘Unfortunately, Reece picked up a little injury yesterday, so we’ll see [in the coming days].’ At full time, e reveal injury na to him knee: ‘He felt something. After that, he had the tests later in the afternoon [on Friday]. He had some little issues on the knee. We need to check how long it will be. We need to assess him week-by-week.’ E never clear exactly how long e go sideline, but week-by-week prognosis suggest say e fit face while for sidelines. Potential return date na October 24 against Tottenham Hotspur.
After impressing throughout pre-season, Jamie Gittens only play 56 competitive minutes for Chelsea this season, largely due to injury. E join up with England Under-21s for international break, but take kick against Kazakhstan and later dem picture am on crutches and wearing protective boot. E leave camp early for further assessment at Cobham. Speaking on Friday, Alonso confirm say e dey face about three weeks out: ‘That is the bad news from this international break, that he picked up an injury in his ankle. He is going to be out for a few weeks.’ He go dey race against time to come back before end of month. Potential return date na October 24 against Tottenham Hotspur.
Emmanuel Emegha situation no absolutely clear. The Dutch striker pick hamstring injury for pre-season but e don back in first-team training. Even with that, dem leave am out of side to face Bournemouth, raising questions as to him fitness. Him exclusion, though, fit simply be down to fact say e sit below on-form Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck for pecking order.
