Chelsea Handed Overdue Fitness Boost As Long-Term Absentee Nears Return

Chelsea’s injury-hit midfield is finally on the verge of reinforcements, with Roméo Lavia approaching the conclusion of a painstaking rehabilitation programme that has kept the Belgian out since early November. The 20-year-old, who last featured in the 2–2 Champions League draw against Qarabağ, has missed more than three months of action and has now been sidelined for 98 matches – a total of 608 days – since his £58 million arrival from Southampton in the summer of 2023.

Manager Liam Rosenior acknowledged at the end of January that Lavia had returned to training, but urged caution, refusing to commit to a comeback date. “If they don’t make that day, it looks bad on them when I know how hard Roméo is working,” Rosenior said. Three weeks later, the Daily Mail reports that Lavia is “nearing the end of a detailed rehabilitation programme” designed by Chelsea’s medical staff to minimise the risk of relapse.

The one-cap international continued individual work at the club’s Cobham base on Monday and Tuesday while team-mates were granted two days off, underlining both his determination and the club’s determination to bring him back methodically. Even once cleared, Lavia is expected to be “eased” into competitive minutes rather than thrown straight into the thick of a congested run-in.

Chelsea’s central-midfield resources have been stretched razor-thin. With Lavia and fellow youngster Dário Essugo unavailable since the Club World Cup, Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo have shouldered the load, supported only by Andrey Santos. Fernández has frequently been pushed into advanced areas to cover for Cole Palmer, forcing right-backs Reece James and Malo Gusto to deputise in midfield when required.

The timing of Lavia’s potential return is critical. Rosenior’s side, beaten by Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final, remain alive on three fronts and could face as many as 23 matches between now and the end of the campaign, or a minimum of 15. Eight fixtures are already locked in before the first international break of 2026, including an FA Cup fifth-round trip to Wrexham on 7 March and a Champions League last-16 double-header against either Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Newcastle United or Qarabağ on 10/11 and 17/18 March.

A scheduling quirk could see Newcastle and Chelsea meet three times in the space of seven days should the Magpies advance from their playoff and draw the Blues in Europe, sandwiching a previously arranged Premier League encounter.

Lavia’s re-emergence would offer Rosenior both depth and balance at a juncture when every rotation option is precious.