Xabi Alonso provides huge Moises Caicedo injury update as four Chelsea stars out vs Hull City

Xabi Alonso has spoken to the press ahead of Chelsea's clash against Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Xabi Alonso has provided an injury update on Moises Caicedo ahead of Chelsea's clash against Hull City. At the end of last month, during the second half of the Blues' win over Brighton, the 24-year-old midfielder suffered an injury no more than a quarter of an hour after coming on, and he's not featured since.

Caicedo had only recently returned to action following a brief spell on the sidelines, too, having missed the opening two games of the new Premier League season. Over the last couple of weeks, the Chelsea manager has downplayed concerns about the Ecuador international, but his extended absence has raised eyebrows.

Speaking to reporters at Cobham training ground on Friday, Alonso announced Caicedo will be unavailable for selection when the Blues host Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The former Liverpool midfielder said: "Not yet. We'll see for Brentford. We're not at a moment to take risks with him. Not yet, not yet."

Alonso was also asked to provide an update on Marco Palestra, who suffered a knock in the build-up to the opening weekend of the campaign. The Blues gaffer confirmed the 21-year-old defender will also be unavailable for selection.

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In the absence of Palestra, Pedro Neto had operated at right wing-back. When asked about the 26-year-old, who's done well in his new position, Alonso said: "For me, he's a winger.

"You can call him a winger or a wing-back. He can play on the last line and defend on the first line. He can do many things. He is good one-v-one, scoring goals and has a fantastic work-rate.

"I knew him well from watching many games of Chelsea. With him, you know he's going to compete, and we want those types of players in our team."

Then, when quizzed on Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha, who are also yet to feature this term due to injury, Alonso said: "Not tomorrow. We hope they can be for Brentford, but we'll see."

Although Chelsea may fancy their chances against a newly promoted outfit, especially having just put six past Leeds United in the Carabao Cup third round, Hull City sit third in the Premier League with seven points.

On the Tigers and the excellent work of Sergej Jakirović, who's been named the August Manager of the Month, Alonso said: "They deserve to be where they are.

"They have played against [Manchester] United, Coventry [City] and [Aston] Villa, and they've done it really well. They've built a clear idea of what they want, how they want to compete. The mentality, they want to fight with everything."

On Thursday, when Jakirović spoke to the press, he joked that his side would stop the high-flying Blues by just 'kicking' them. Alonso was asked what he thought about the remark.

"Let's not talk about those words, it's impossible," said the Spaniard. "We go into tomorrow's game with the same respect as we did versus Arsenal.

"They will be hard to beat. They have the belief. The coach is doing a great job. It will be hard."