Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed a significant injury boost ahead of the upcoming Premier League match against Brighton, with young midfielder Romeo Lavia set to make his return after a five-week absence due to a hamstring injury. Lavia’s return is a welcome development for the Blues, who have been without the 20-year-old since he picked up the injury during training earlier in the season.
Lavia, who joined Chelsea from Southampton for an initial fee of £53 million, was limited to just one substitute appearance last season due to injury setbacks. However, he impressed in Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the opening day of this campaign and made another appearance off the bench in a Europa Conference League match against Servette.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Cobham, Maresca expressed his relief at having Lavia back in contention. “Romeo is back available,” he said. “We will assess whether he can start or if he’ll be used as a substitute. The important thing is he’s back and ready, which is fantastic news for us.”
Lavia’s return adds depth to Chelsea’s midfield options, where he could potentially line up alongside Moises Caicedo, forming a dynamic partnership. Caicedo, who joined Chelsea in a record-breaking transfer, has shown flashes of his potential but Maresca believes there is still more to come from the Ecuadorian midfielder. Maresca emphasized that Caicedo needs to focus on his performances rather than the expectations tied to his hefty price tag, stating, “He’s improving, but I want him to ignore the talk about his transfer fee and concentrate on his game.”
While Lavia’s return is a major boost, Chelsea will still be without captain Reece James, who remains sidelined. Maresca offered little in the way of updates regarding James’ recovery, saying, “Reece is still out, and there’s no real update on his situation at the moment.”
As Chelsea prepares to face Brighton, Lavia’s availability will give Maresca a tactical decision to make in midfield. The return of such an important player strengthens Chelsea’s prospects in what promises to be a crucial Premier League encounter.
