Xabi Alonso Confirms Moises Caicedo Out for Leeds Clash

Chelsea will have to navigate their Carabao Cup clash with Leeds without Moises Caicedo, after Xabi Alonso confirmed the midfielder has not yet shaken off the injury that kept him out of the defeat to Arsenal.

Caicedo has not recovered in time and Alonso is refusing to gamble.

“No, not yet. Still not ready to go,” the Chelsea head coach said when asked about the Ecuadorian and fellow summer arrival Marco Palestra. “Not the moment to take too early risk. So we go game by game with them and it's too early.”

Palestra also misses out as he continues to build towards full fitness, trimming Alonso’s options in midfield for a cup tie that arrives on the back of a bruising league loss.

The picture could look different by the weekend. Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday, and Alonso left the door open for Caicedo to feature.

“Potentially, yes,” he said when pressed on a possible comeback. “But we need to wait and probably Thursday, Friday, we'll know more.”

There was at least one boost. Levi Colwill, an unused substitute against Arsenal, is available to face Leeds.

“He's okay,” Alonso confirmed. “He's okay for tomorrow.”

Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha will not be involved, adding to the list of absentees for the cup tie. Alonso was in no mood to put a timeline on their returns.

“Ask me on Friday. Ask me on Friday,” he replied.

Chelsea head into the knockout tie juggling minutes, injuries and expectations. By the time the league rolls back around at the weekend, Alonso will hope the picture in midfield looks far less fragile.