Alonso: Caicedo fit for Bournemouth, Henderson settling in

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed Moises Caicedo is fit to face Bournemouth after the Ecuadorian missed most of the season with injury. Caicedo has made only one appearance this campaign, but the international break gave him time to fully recover.

Alonso praised Caicedo's impact on Chelsea's midfield, citing both his technical qualities and attitude towards teammates. "We are all happier when we see Moi on the pitch. Not just myself, his team-mates as well. They are happy to see him not just because he's a great player; everyone loves Moi because of how generous he is with his effort, how much he helps each of the team-mates, and how important he is," the manager said.

Alonso added that Caicedo still has room to develop. "He has a very important role in the team because of the balance he gives, because of the many qualities he has, and he's in a moment where he needs to keep growing, to keep learning," he said.

Jordan Henderson made his Chelsea debut at Brentford three weeks ago after his own injury setbacks, and Alonso indicated the veteran midfielder has used the break productively. "He didn't want many days off. For him it was important to have the feeling of being back on the pitch after missing pre-season, missing the first games," Alonso said.

Alonso highlighted Henderson's experience as a key asset for the squad going forward. "We need the right players in terms of quality, in terms of personality, and Hendo has great personality, great experience in the league. Now we have had more time with him, he can connect very well with the players," the Chelsea manager added.