Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Moises Caicedo missed the 0-0 draw against Bournemouth at the weekend due to a knee injury.
Speaking before the match on Sunday, Pochettino revealed that the Ecuadorian had picked up the problem on international duty:
“Caicedo arrived back with a knock in his knee. We need to assess him in the next few days but he wasn’t available for today, that’s why he’s not here.”
Pochettino also confirmed why Noni Madueke and Marc Cucurella were missing from the matchday squad. The former sustained a muscular injury when away with England’s Under 21s, while the latter is suffering with illness.
The pair have been added to a long absentee list that has now reached double figures. The nearest to making their return to action are Benoit Badiashile and Armando Broja.
Badiashile hasn’t played since the end of last season due to a hamstring injury but he is closing in on a return to full fitness. Broja, meanwhile, was tipped to make his comeback against Bournemouth but it appears that the striker still needs more time to get back up to speed. There is a chance he’ll be available when Chelsea take on Aston Villa this weekend.
7 other Chelsea players remain on the sidelines
Trevoh Chalobah is now in the final stages of his recovery from a hamstring issue. The defender hasn’t played a minute of first-team football so far this season, having suffered a fitness setback just before the season opener versus Liverpool.
Reece James’s recovery from his own hamstring injury is taking longer than expected. When he picked up the problem last month, the estimated return date was a few weeks, but now, Pochettino has said that the Blues will “hopefully” have him back in the next month.
Romeo Lavia twisted his ankle in training and the Belgian international is set to be out for six weeks. He won’t return before the next international break.
Marcus Bettinelli and Carney Chukwuemeka are undergoing rehabilitation on their respective knee injuries, with the latter likely to be back in action at some point in mid-October.
Christopher Nkunku suffered knee ligament damage in pre-season but it is hoped that the Frenchman will return before Christmas. Wesley Fofana also sustained his injury before the campaign started. However, his recovery from an ACL means he won’t be ready to play again until sometime next year.
