Pochettino confirms why Caicedo is not in Chelsea squad for Bournemouth clash

Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Moises Caicedo is struggling with a knee injury which has kept the midfielder out of Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.

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Caicedo is not in the squad for the away day on the south coast, having picked up a knock while on international duty with Ecuador.

The injury is not thought to be a serious one, but it is enough to mean the 21-year-old sits out.

‘Caicedo arrived back from international duty with a knock in his knee,’ said Pochettino of the Ecuadorian. ‘We need to assess him in the next few days but he wasn’t available for today, that’s why he not here with the team.’

Ben Chilwell was also a surprise omission from the starting XI for the Blues, although he is on the bench as Pochettino confirmed a change in tactics which gave Mykhailo Mudryk a start.

‘I think we want to play with Mudryk in the position we normally use to play Chilwell,’ Pochettino told Sky Sports.

‘We want to play with a more offensive player, and of course keeping the same back four with Malo Gusto, Thiago Silva, Axel [Disasi] and Levi [Colwill].’

Mudryk comes in for Chilwell, with Lesley Ugochukwu earning his first start for the club in midfield in place of Caicedo.

‘It’s a great opportunity for the guys who didn’t start in the first months to show the quality and that they are ready to compete in the premier league,’ said the Blues boss.

‘We need to win and show that we are Chelsea and we are ready to compete.’

The Blues have been ravaged by injury problems so far this season, with Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana and Armando Broja among notable absentees.

Romeo Lavia suffered an ankle injury during the international break, which will see the midfielder wait at least six weeks before making his debut for the club.

Chelsea team vs Bournemouth: Sanchez, Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Gallagher, Ugochukwu, Sterling, Fernandez, Mudryk, Jackson.

Subs: Bergstrom, Palmer, Chilwell, Petrovic, Maatsen, Washington, Gilchrist, Matos, Stutter.

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