Chelsea face Brentford on Sunday evening in the Premier League in a London derby. But by consulting the lineups before the match, supporters were able to notice that Roméo Lavia did not appear on the Blues match sheet.
A worrying injury history
This absence is cause for concern, as the young midfielder has been severely slowed by injuries over the past 18 months. Last season, he had to give up the entire campaign. This season again, he spent several weeks away from the field before starting to find rhythm recently.
Lavia could return quickly
A new injury would have been a real blow, especially since Lavia seemed to be getting closer to her best level in recent weeks. But Enzo Maresca reassured before the match against Brentford.
The Blues’ Italian coach said it was not a serious injury: “He could already be back for the next match,” he said.
Absent in Europe, but present against Everton
Chelsea’s next match is scheduled for next Sunday against Everton, and Lavia could therefore be available for this trip. However, before that, the Blues face Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League, a match for which Lavia is ineligible.
Indeed, in order to manage his recovery and avoid any overload, Chelsea decided in September not to register Lavia for the group stage of this European competition. A decision which also concerns other players, like Cole Palmer, spared in this competition.
