Chelsea star confirms fresh injury 'blow' after Enzo Maresca's honest Reece James admission

Romeo Lavia has 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. In total, Lavia has missed 47 matches in all competitions due to different injury problems, including four games at the start of this season.

Last term, his debut campaign in a Chelsea shirt, saw the Belgium international play just once. This season, though, he has already made seven appearances in all competitions and has recently climbed above Enzo Fernandez in the pecking order in the Premier League.

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This latest setback came during Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday evening with Lavia being taken off on 68 minutes in place of Fernandez. "I received a little blow," Lavia said to RTL Info. "At the moment, we are testing to see if it is okay, but it should be fine, I think."

Lavia has joined up with 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 in his legs 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, knowing too well the injuries the midfielder suffered with under Mauricio Pochettino. Lavia, along with Reece James and Wesley Fofana, have been on similar programmes; in terms of being used just once a week when possible.

Speaking last month about James and his return, Maresca explained: "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 formed quite the partnership in the middle of the pitch with Moises Caicedo in recent weeks. While neither Lavia or Caicedo are your conventional ball-winning No.6s, they have been able to offer more of a shield to the back four when playing together.