Chelsea star now set to support international teammates 'from the outside' as Enzo Maresca handed unlikely squad boost

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is on a flight back from international duty, but he will not be involved in the next international break as he has accumulated enough yellow cards to rule him out of the games against Bolivia and Colombia.

Caicedo is the engine of both his club and national team, and his absence will be a blow for Ecuador as they aim to qualify for the World Cup from the highly competitive South American region. However, his absence will be a massive boost for Chelsea, sparing him the 14-hour travel time and allowing him to return without the exhaustion of international duty, just before the weekend games.

Speaking after Ecuador’s goalless draw, the Chelsea midfielder revealed that he would be supporting his team from the sidelines and hopes they can cope without him. He told ESPN in Ecuador: "I always want to be in all the games. I'll be there accompanying them from outside against Bolivia. I ask people to trust; the Qualifiers are very long. Our advantage is that we believe in what we do.

Chelsea's manager will be pleased with the performances of his players during the international break, with Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku both continuing their impressive form despite being away.

However, there is some concern over the fitness of goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen after he was withdrawn from Denmark’s Under-21 game. The biggest news of the week, though, is Reece James returning to training ahead of the game against Liverpool.

There is still no certainty if he will be included in the squad for the trip to Anfield, but his return is undoubtedly a major lift for the entire Chelsea squad as they look to build on what has been a strong start to the season. Liverpool currently sit at the top of the league table and are expected to provide a stern test to Chelsea's newfound form this season.