Chelsea’s midfield dynamo and newly crowned Player of the Season, Moises Caicedo, was notably absent from Wednesday afternoon’s training session — but there’s no reason for Blues fans to panic.

According to the Daily Mail, the Ecuadorian star was granted permission by the club to miss the 3pm session in order to attend a prestigious ceremony. Caicedo received the National Order of Merit from Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa, who is currently visiting London.

Despite skipping the scheduled session, Caicedo did not take the full day off. It’s understood the tireless midfielder trained separately to maintain his fitness ahead of Thursday’s crucial fixture.

Chelsea are gearing up to host Swedish side Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final. The Blues hold a commanding 4-1 advantage from the first leg and are expected to progress comfortably to the final.

Caicedo is expected to return to the fold and be available for selection, with Enzo Maresca likely to call upon his energy and control as the Blues look to seal the deal on home turf.

Will Chelsea cruise into the final or will there be a twist in the tale at the Bridge?