Xabi Alonso has confirmed Moises Caicedo is “ready to go” as Chelsea prepare to face Bournemouth this weekend, with Cole Palmer, Reece James, Joao Pedro and Marco Palestra all passed fit, too.
The availability of a number of players ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth had been unclear over the course of the extended three-week international break. Chelsea’s first match back, at Stamford Bridge against the Cherries, will be the first time Alonso’s side have played in 22 days since the 3-0 defeat away to Brentford.
Returning players and training updates
Palmer and Joao Pedro both missed international duty for England and Brazil respectively but were pictured at Cobham on Thursday. Standard Sport revealed last month that Joao Pedro was seeing a specialist in London as he worked on his recovery from the knee injury that kept him out of that Brentford match.
Chelsea have also been without Caicedo and James lately due to their respective calf and hamstring injuries, weakening their options in midfield.
Manager’s verdict ahead of the clash
Speaking ahead of the Bournemouth clash, the Spaniard confirmed that Joao Pedro, Palmer, Caicedo, James and full-back Marco Palestra have all returned to training and are “ready to go.”
He continued: “We have [spent time on] the recovery of some players. Yes. (Caicedo) is ready to go. We have the used the time to be back fit. He is okay to go. (Palmer has) trained the last week, he has felt better. We didn’t want to rush. What is most important for Cole is that he is fully fit, enjoying his game and is OK. Against Brentford we could see he was struggling. For the next part.”
The Blues’ boss added he believes the international break came at a fortuitous time for Chelsea as they dealt with a burgeoning injury crisis.
