Enzo Maresca’s latest comments hand Chelsea big boost ahead of tough run-in | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has revealed Romeo Lavia can be available for Sunday’s London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Blues take the short trip to their neighbours in desperate need of three points to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive.

Chelsea suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat against Legia Warsaw on Thursday night despite fielding a strong team, with both the fans and Maresca expecting a response.

Lavia available for Fulham

Chelsea face a tough run-in and given their current form it’s hard to see where the next three points are coming from.

The Blues were able to rest the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez on Thursday night, whilst they could also be boosted by the return of Lavia with Maresca confirming the 21-year-old is available.

Injury has limited Lavia to just 11 Premier League appearances. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)

“Romeo is back,” he told his pre-match press conference.

“He’s training with us and he can be available for Sunday. With him, we’re going to try the same thing that we are trying with Reece [James].

“I would like to play Reece every three days, but we are trying to manage him, to help him. And as I said, exactly the same thing we are going to try to do with Romeo because he is for us an important player.”

Lavia has once again been plagued by injury issues and his personal physio has admitted he’s baffled by the constant injuries.

The Belgium international has been limited to just 13 appearances in all competitions, and Maresca admitted he felt sad for the midfielder earlier this season.

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Lavia is an important player for the Blues and has shown just how good he is when he’s played this season, but he’s proven over the last two seasons he can’t be relied upon to be fit and available.

The Blues have got to get to the bottom of his injury issues and make sure next season he’s fit for the vast majority of the campaign as Chelsea can’t afford to carry him as a passenger.