Chelsea receive injury boost ahead of Carabao Cup final as £58m star spotted

22 February 2024 , 20:48

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Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

Romeo Lavia continued his progress back to fitness as he was spotted completing work in the gym at Cobham on Thursday.

The £58million signing has featured just once for the club so far this season as he completed a 32-minute cameo against Crystal Palace in December. Lavia suffered a long road to full fitness after arriving at Stamford Bridge in August before being hit with a setback during his short time on the pitch during the festive period.

Mauricio Pochettino has already ruled out the Belgian from featuring in the Carabao Cup final this weekend. "No [he won't be back for Carabao Cup final]," Pochettino said earlier this month. "He is not training with the team. He is still recovering. Impossible. He is still not on the pitch."

However, Lavia has been seen in training ground images that surfaced on social media. The former Southampton midfielder did not feature in the rain at Cobham alongside his teammates, but the 20-year-old appears to be continuing to progress back to fitness as he pictured at work in the club gym.

The update comes days after he was spotted undertaking work on the grass for the first time. It has been suggested Lavia could return as soon as the first week of March, but Chelsea will be reluctant to rush him back given his issues this term.

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Lavia posted to X earlier this month: "Received a lot of support messages and I wanted to let you know that it means a lot to me. I’m gutted not to be able to help the team, but I’m fully focused on coming back. The wait will be worth it…"

COBHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Chelsea unveil new signing Romeo Lavia at Chelsea training Ground on August 18, 2023 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Robert Sanchez has also been in training this week after missing Chelsea's trip to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and will look to compete with Djordje Petrovic for a spot in goal against Liverpool. Youngster Leo Castledine has also been in first team training and will be aiming for a spot in the squad this weekend at Wembley.

Chelsea could be without eight players this weekend with the possibility Carney Chukwuemeka, Thiago Silva, Benoit Badiashile, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Lesley Ugochukwu all likely to miss the game in addition to Lavia. Silva has been linked to returning to the squad but has not been pictured in training thus far.

Liverpool have been similarly hit by injury. Jurgen Klopp was without 11 first-team players including Diogo Joa, Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold for their win against Luton Town. Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah were also absent from the clash with their injuries being monitored day-by-day.

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Scott Trotter