Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia has taken a major step towards his long-awaited first-team return, completing 45 minutes for the Under-21s in a 2-2 Premier League 2 draw against Leeds United at Cobham this afternoon.**
The 22-year-old Belgian international made his first competitive appearance in more than three months after suffering a thigh injury just eight minutes into Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League match away to Qarabag on 5 November 2025.
Lavia started in midfield alongside Harrison McMahon and Reggie Walsh in a 4-3-3 formation and delivered a composed, assured performance, bringing control and quality to the centre of the pitch. He was withdrawn at half-time as part of Chelsea’s careful management of his recovery, having helped the young Blues lead 2-0 before Leeds fought back for a share of the spoils.
Head Coach Liam Rosenior and several first-team players, including Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Cole Palmer and Tosin Adarabioyo, were among those watching from the sidelines as Lavia continued his rehabilitation.
Rosenior has been overseeing a detailed, individualised plan for the midfielder, who returned to first-team training over the past fortnight. The club is taking a cautious approach to ensure Lavia returns “for good” and avoids any further setbacks.
Speaking on the process, Rosenior emphasised the importance of patience: “We have a really detailed plan for him so that when he returns, he returns for good.”
Lavia’s return will be a significant boost for the Chelsea squad as they enter the business end of the 2025/26 season. The highly-rated defensive midfielder, signed from Southampton in August 2023, has shown his immense quality in limited appearances and remains a key part of the club’s long-term vision.
Chelsea will continue to monitor Lavia’s progress closely in the coming days as he builds towards full first-team integration. No specific return date has been set.
We Breathe Blue
No comments
Post a Comment