Chelsea's injury woes alleviated as player delivers positive update after minor setback

Chelsea has been given a positive update on player Romeo Lavia's injury status, as he assured fans that he should be fine following a minor setback in the match against Arsenal.

Lavia was forced off during the closing stages of Sunday’s 1-1 draw against the Gunners, raising concerns over his fitness heading into the international break.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca admitted only last month that he was ‘afraid’ of the 20-year-old midfielder potentially getting injured.

Lavia massively struggled with a thigh issue last season but has established himself as a key player under Maresca this term, having forced his way into the XI.

‘I received a little blow,’ Lavia told RTL Info on international duty with Belgium. ‘At the moment, we are testing to see if it is okay, but it should be fine, I think.’

Lavia has received glowing praise from football pundits this season, with former Tottenham player and manager Tim Sherwood a huge fan of the youngster.

‘Romeo Lavia, for me, is going to be a top-drawer, top-class midfield player,’ Sherwood said in October. ‘I think he’s incredible as well.

‘Every time he gets the ball, he just looks to see where Cole (Palmer) is and he just shifts it two yards to the right and threads it through the hole to him.

‘Once he gets behind the midfield on his back foot and he faces the defenders, it scares them to death because the Chelsea forwards, all of a sudden start moving and he finds a pass and the weight of pass and the correct timing of the pass as well.’

Lavia’s injury update comes at the ideal time for Chelsea, who have seen a number of their players withdraw from international duty, sparking concerns about a possible injury crisis.

Frenchman Malo Gusto became the latest Chelsea player to withdraw from international duty this week, joining English pair Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill.

Wesley Fofana also pulled out of the France squad, while in other areas, Jadon Sancho has been ruled out of recent matches due to both illness and injury.

Chelsea are back in action on November 23 with a trip to Leicester City in the Premier League.