Belgian-Ghanaian midfielder Romeo Lavia faces lengthy spell out after fresh injury blow

Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia is set to miss over a month of action after sustaining another injury during the club’s Champions League clash.

The Belgian-Ghanaian youngster was forced off in the opening minutes of Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Qarabag on Wednesday, adding to a frustrating injury record.

Lavia, 21, joined Chelsea from Southampton for around £60 million but has struggled to maintain fitness.

Last season, he missed 226 days through injury and managed just over half an hour across the entire 2023/24 campaign.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Lavia’s latest setback involves a quad injury, which will keep him out for several weeks.

His recurring injuries are causing concern at Stamford Bridge, as the midfielder has spent more time in the medical room than on the pitch since his arrival.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the impact of Lavia’s absence on squad rotation.

“When you have a chance to rotate… it’s better. But in this moment, you see, Moi, the other day, after five minutes, he was on the pitch,” Maresca explained, highlighting the strain on Moises Caicedo and other midfield options.

Reports suggest Chelsea may consider offloading Lavia if his injury woes persist, given the difficulty of relying on a player who frequently returns to fitness only to pick up another knock.

With Premier League and Champions League fixtures piling up, Chelsea will need to adjust their midfield plans while hoping Lavia can recover fully and avoid another lengthy spell on the sidelines.