Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is feeling positive about his chances of being fit for the upcoming match against Aston Villa, despite missing the game against Bournemouth, as reported by the Evening Standard.
During the recent international break, Caicedo played the full 90 minutes in Ecuador’s matches against Argentina and Uruguay, helping his team secure a 2-1 victory against Marcelo Bielsa’s former team, Leeds United.
However, the 21-year-old returned to England with an injury, specifically a knee problem, sustained during his national team duty. Consequently, he was unable to participate in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw against Bournemouth last weekend.
Caicedo’s injury seems to be relatively minor, and there is optimism that he will recover in time to play in the upcoming match against Aston Villa on Sunday.
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Mauricio Pochettino has faced a challenging beginning to his tenure at the West London club, and injuries have compounded his difficulties. Several players, including Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, and Benoit Baidashile, are currently sidelined.
Chelsea made a significant £115 million signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer. However, the Ecuadorian international has yet to fully demonstrate his abilities at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have managed just one victory in their first five Premier League matches and are scheduled to face Aston Villa on Sunday. Villa, currently under the management of Unai Emery, has been performing well this season.
Chelsea are evidently in need of a home win to kick-start their season. Nevertheless, Aston Villa presents a formidable challenge, and at the moment, they appear to have a more balanced and competitive team compared to Chelsea.
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In the match against Bournemouth, Pochettino fielded Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez in the midfield. Chelsea managed to create several opportunities during the game, but their finishing in the attacking third was lacking.
Caicedo has demonstrated his ability to be a game-changer at Brighton, thanks to his diligent work rate and determination off the ball.
However, the question remains whether Pochettino will take the risk of including the midfielder in the lineup for the upcoming weekend or opt to give him additional time to recover.
