Xabi Alonso refuses to guarantee Moises Caicedo for Chelsea’s Brentford clash

Xabi Alonso refuses to guarantee Moises Caicedo for Chelsea’s Brentford clash Xabi Alonso has delivered an update on Moises Caicedo’s availability for Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday. Caicedo has been nursing a recurring calf injury since the start of the season. He has featured in one game across all competitions. Alonso had hinted before last weekend’s clash with Hull City that the Ecuador international could return to action against Brentford. However, the Spanish tactician, speaking at his pre-match conference ahead of Friday’s clash, said it is not yet certain that Caicedo will feature. “He’s getting closer, and tomorrow we will make the final decision,” he told chelseafc.com . Caicedo’s absence has contributed to Chelsea’s defensive frailties due to the lack of sufficient protection from midfield. Reece James and Romeo Lavia have been the Blues’ most-used starting midfield pairing so far this season, but neither offers the same level of defensive protection as Caicedo. Alonso has admitted that the Ecuador international makes his team better. “Moi is one of the top midfielders in the world. Any team with Moi in the middle is a better team – and we are aware of that…” In other team news, Joao Pedro has not been ruled out for tomorrow’s clash despite reports that he has pulled out of Brazil’s upcoming international games due to an injury. Alonso also said that Reece James remains in contention to feature after missing Tuesday’s training session. Chelsea are winless in their last two league games and will be looking to return to winning ways before the international break.