Xabi Alonso Confirms Caicedo Unavailable for Leeds Clash

Xabi Alonso shuts door on Caicedo return for Leeds tie

Moises Caicedo will play no part when Chelsea host Leeds in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, with Xabi Alonso adamant he will not gamble on the midfielder’s fitness again.

The Ecuador captain, who missed the opening Premier League fixtures against Fulham and Luton, only just made his comeback as a substitute in the chaotic 4-3 win over Brighton. It lasted 14 minutes. Then came the grim walk off, another injury setback and another reshuffle for Alonso.

Caicedo sat out Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, and in the aftermath at the Emirates the Chelsea head coach admitted the club had pushed the 22-year-old back too quickly for that Brighton thriller. He made it clear there would be no repeat.

On Tuesday afternoon, as he looked ahead to the Leeds tie at Stamford Bridge, Alonso drew a firm line.

Asked directly if Caicedo was fit, he replied: “No. Not yet. Still not ready to go. Not the moment to take a too-early risk. We go game by game with them. It’s too early.”

Chelsea’s medical team will now work towards the weekend. Hull away is the next target, but even that comes with a warning label.

Pressed on whether Caicedo could feature there, Alonso said: “Potentially, yes. But we need to wait and probably Thursday or Friday we will know more.”

So Leeds arrive without having to face Chelsea’s marquee midfield destroyer, though they will not find a fully stocked home squad either.

Levi Colwill, at least, is back in contention, but Marco Palestra remains sidelined. Alonso was quick to underline what the young attacker’s absence has cost him.

“Especially for (Palestra). He came with huge energy, huge desire to enjoy his game in the PL. He had a very good pre-season. Right in the days before Fulham, he picked up an injury. We will need him, for sure. He will add a lot of good potential for the team.”

Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha have also been ruled out of the Leeds clash, trimming Alonso’s options as he tries to juggle early-season injuries with the demands of a domestic cup run.

Leeds, by contrast, travel with far fewer concerns. They boast close to a clean bill of health, with only Daniel James a doubt as he battles to shake off persistent back and hamstring issues and faces a late fitness test.

Chelsea’s bench will look different again, the midfield still missing its marquee enforcer. The question now is whether the caution shown with Caicedo in September pays off when the season’s real battles arrive.