Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso issues Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia updates ahead of Hull City clash
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has looked ahead to his side’s clash with Hull City
Chelsea have been boosted by the return of Romeo Lavia ahead of their meeting with Hull City.
The midfielder has endured an injury-plagued spell at Stamford Bridge since being lured from Southampton in the 2023.
He was not in the squad for Chelsea’s 6-3 Carabao Cup win over Leeds United in midweek, but is available to face the Tigers.
Romeo Lavia available - but trio are not
Fellow midfielder Moises Caicedo, however, is not being risked having suffered a setback in Chelsea’s recent 4-3 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Blues boss Xabi Alonso said: “[He is] not yet [ready to return]; let’s see for Brentford. Unluckily, not yet, and it's not the moment to take the risk with him. We are not there yet.”
There will also be no place in the squad for midfield general Jordan Henderson or young forward Emmanuel Emegha.
Alonso said: “Not tomorrow. We hope they can be [ready] against Brentford, but we will see.”
Respect for Hull City
Chelsea will be fancied to beat Hull, but the Tigers have made an impressive start to the Premier League campaign. After three league games, they are the only club across England’s top four tiers who have not conceded a single league goal this term.
Previewing the clash, Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic jokingly suggested his side will have to kick Alonso’s players.
Alonso said: “Let's not talk about those big words, impossible in football is too big a word. We face tomorrow's game with the same respect we did last week against Arsenal.
“They are seven points, no goals conceded. They will be hard to beat. They have their weapons as well, with transitions and set-pieces. They have the belief that the coach is doing a great job. So it's going to be hard and we'll have to be at our best to beat Hull tomorrow.
“Tomorrow we are prepared, we are ready. There is not going to be complacency from us. We have full respect for them and we know that it will be hard to beat them. If we do things well, if we complete and play at our level, I think we will have a good chance.”