Chelsea’s injury woes have deepened ahead of their crucial Premier League showdown against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, as Romeo Lavia has suffered yet another setback.

Head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the Belgian midfielder will miss the highly anticipated London derby after picking up a fresh injury in training.

Maresca Confirms Lavia’s Absence

The Chelsea boss provided an update on Lavia’s condition, stating:

“He was doing better in terms of progress, but unfortunately, one or two days ago, he had a small problem. So, we will see in the next hours.”

This latest blow adds to what has been a frustrating season for Lavia, who has barely featured since joining Chelsea from Southampton for £53 million last summer.

A Season of Frustration for Lavia

At just 21 years old, Lavia was expected to play a key role in Chelsea’s midfield rebuild, but persistent injuries have completely derailed his development.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, he has made just one appearance in all competitions. This ongoing struggle with fitness raises concerns about his long-term availability and whether Chelsea are getting any value from their investment.

Chelsea’s Midfield Dilemma Against Spurs

With Lavia unavailable, Maresca must rethink his midfield setup for the Tottenham clash. While Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández are likely to start, Chelsea's depth in midfield is already stretched thin due to injuries to key players like Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka.

For a club aiming to regain its top-four ambitions, these constant fitness setbacks are a serious issue. Lavia’s unavailability further highlights Chelsea’s injury-plagued season, making squad rotation increasingly difficult.

Final Thoughts

Chelsea fans had high hopes for Romeo Lavia, but his repeated injury setbacks are becoming a cause for concern. As the Blues prepare to face Tottenham, they’ll need to find a way to compensate for his absence—again.

The bigger question, however, remains: Will Lavia ever get the chance to truly establish himself in Chelsea’s midfield? Or will injuries continue to define his time at Stamford Bridge?