Over the weekend, Romeo Lavia revealed he suffered an injury “blow” during Chelsea’s draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, but the midfielder is hopeful it is nothing too serious.
- Since joining the Blues in the summer of 2023 from Southampton, the 20-year-old midfielder has had a torrid time with injuries, missing a total of 47 matches in all competitions due to various problems, including four games at the start of this season.
- Last term, in his debut campaign for Chelsea, the Belgium international played just once. However, this season, he has already made seven appearances in all competitions and has climbed above Enzo Fernandez in the pecking order in the Premier League.
- This latest setback occurred during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday evening, with Lavia being substituted off in the 68th minute for Fernandez. “I received a little blow,” Lavia told RTL Info. “At the moment, we are testing to see if it is okay, but it should be fine, I think.”
- Lavia has joined the Belgium squad for their UEFA Nations League fixtures against Italy and Israel.
- Enzo Maresca will be hoping the midfielder can get some more minutes but crucially avoid any further strain to his slight injury knock with Chelsea about to embark on a significant period of their 2024/25 season.
- Maresca has been using Lavia cautiously this season, well aware of the injuries the midfielder suffered under Mauricio Pochettino. Lavia, along with Reece James and Wesley Fofana, have been on similar programmes, being utilized just once a week when possible.
- Speaking last month about James and his return, Maresca noted: “It is complicated when you get injury, injury, injury again. It is not easy so you are always looking for a solution.”
- “Probably the solution with Reece is the same solution we are using with Romeo and Wes in terms of using them just once a week, in one game, because probably in this moment, for different reasons, Reece’s body cannot play twice a week. One of the solutions is probably to try and manage him in the same way we are doing with Wes and Romeo.”
- Lavia has developed a strong partnership in the midfield with Moises Caicedo in recent weeks. While neither Lavia nor Caicedo are your conventional ball-winning No.6s, they have successfully provided more protection to the back four when playing together.
