Xabi Alonso insists Estevao Willian is not playing for Chelsea due to “the context of the games”.

The Brazilian wonderkid has been limited in starts and minutes on the pitch under Alonso this season since returning from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the World Cup with Brazil.

After flashes of brilliance last season, including a match-winning contribution against Barcelona in the Champions League, Estevao has made just six appearances in the Premier League and played seven per cent of the minutes available for the Blues.

“Sure, he will play, the season is long, there will be moments for everyone,” Alonso said when pushed on why Estevao has struggled to feature prominently for the side this season.

“It's a process, for the team, for Este and myself, I’m sure in the season he’ll have his games, he'll have his minutes. We're early in the season. He'll be there. It's not about attitude, it's about the context of the games.

“It’s about the start of the season. He's a great guy, he wants, it’s about adaptation, first year since the injury, it’s early he will be important. No, no, no, no discussions about that [a loan move in January].

“It’s no secret every player wants to be on the pitch, because of my decision, I have to take responsibility for that, but everyone has to be ready, any game they could be important, he’s training, his attitude has been good, like [Valentin] Barco, [Marco] Palestra, [Danny] Welbeck, all these players that haven’t been regular, it’s football, a squad, it’s like that.

“We speak, we share our views, it comes from me, he’s young, I need to involve him in conversations. Mentally we have spoken about what it takes to be available for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Alonso will be without Maxence Lacroix, who picked up an injury against Liverpool in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat, with the French defender set for a spell on the touchline.

“He [Lacroix] picked up an injury and we expect he won’t be ready before the international break, he’ll be out for a few weeks,” Alonso said, before confirming Moises Caicedo is fit to play and has no physical issue. “No issue, he’s OK for tomorrow.

There is “a chance” that Emi Martinez could return before the international break after a head injury, while Jorrel Hato is also out, joining Joao Pedro on the sidelines. One positive for the Blues is Pep Chavarria, with the Spanish full-back back and in the squad.