Chelsea’s rising star Romeo Lavia has encountered another injury hurdle while on international duty with Belgium.
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The 20-year-old midfielder, who has been instrumental in Chelsea’s midfield this season, is battling a hamstring issue.
Having missed the entirety of the 2023-24 season after his £50m transfer from Southampton, Lavia’s ongoing fitness struggles have become a significant concern for the Blues.
This season, under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, Lavia has forged a formidable midfield partnership with Moises Caicedo. This collaboration has seen Enzo Fernandez benched, as Lavia and Caicedo have taken center stage.
However, his recent hamstring strain, sustained in a 1-1 draw against Arsenal just before the international break, has raised alarms.
Despite initial optimism from Lavia about his fitness, the Belgian national team has excluded him from matches against Italy and Israel, with head coach Domenico Tedesco confirming the injury as genuine.
Tedesco expressed his challenges with the mounting injuries in the squad, stating, “We’ve had numerous players ruled out before the camp, and the situation is unprecedented.”
Lavia, along with Arthur Theate and Romelu Lukaku, are among the latest additions to Belgium’s injury list.
Chelsea will be closely monitoring Lavia’s recovery, hoping he can make a swift return to action in time for their crucial Premier League fixture against Leicester City on November 23.