Chelsea star banished from first-team at Stamford Bridge in brutal Xabi Alonso call

Xabi Alonso has banished one Chelsea player from first-team duties at Stamford Bridge ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Leeds United.

Alonso has won two of his first three Premier League games in charge of Chelsea, beating Fulham and Brighton before losing 2-1 to rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Spaniard now turns his attention to the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, and he could give some fringe players a chance to impress against Leeds, though one star almost certainly won't be involved.

READ NEXT: Renato Sanches approached over shock Premier League return after PSG contract ripped up

Xabi Alonso blocks Kendry Paez from Chelsea first-team

In the build-up to the clash at Stamford Bridge, Alonso confirmed that winger Kendry Paez won't be selected in the first team before the January transfer window after returning from his loan at River Plate last month.

“No, no. He is not part of the plans. At the moment, he is not part of the first team squad,” the 44-year-old said when asked about the teenager, who the Blues signed from Independiente del Valle for £17.3million (now $23.4m) last summer.

The two clubs agreed a deal in 2023 when he was 16, but he had to wait until he turned 18 to officially join the London side. Paez has never made a first-team appearance for Chelsea and was sent on loan to Strasbourg last season, where he featured 21 times in all competitions.

BlueCo attempted to loan the Ecuador international out to a club in England before the transfer window shut on September 1, but nothing was finalised, and time is running out for the fleet-footed winger to find regular first-team opportunities after being snubbed by Alonso.

There are windows in other domestic leagues still open elsewhere if Chelsea want to arrange another loan now rather than waiting for January. Mexico, Brazil and Greece are just some of the options available.

READ NEXT: Enzo Maresca 'snubs' Man City star again in Champions League clash as fans claim he 'hates' him

Xabi Alonso insists Estevao is part of his plans

While Paez seeks an exit route out of Stamford Bridge, Alonso confirmed that another of the club's teenage wingers, Estevao, will play a part in his plans.

The Brazilian has had a reduced level of game time at the start of Alonso’s first season in comparison to last term under previous head coaches Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.

"No, Este is ready; he's training well," Alonso said on Tuesday.

"[On Sunday], he had a very good impact; he has a great chance. So he's fully involved and has a very good attitude every day.”

The 19-year-old came off the bench in the final eight minutes of their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal and started their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Luton Town last month.

That appearance at the Emirates came after reports in Brazil were linking Estevao with a January exit, but Alonso has insisted he has an important role to play this season.

“The players that have the desire and the hunger to prove and to show every day that they are up for the challenge, it's what we want to create here in the building," he continued.

“And Este is part of it. So he has had a very good attitude, very good mentality to prepare every game and to be ready for the team.”

Estevao could start on the right of Chelsea's attack against Leeds, or at the very least, make another appearance from the bench.