Chelsea return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest.placeholder image
Chelsea return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
A picture of a Chelsea star loving life in training this week has got social media talking during the international break.
Chelsea supporters, just like all the other 19 clubs in the Premier League, are enduring a fortnight without seeing their team in action. It can sometimes leave fans clutching at straws for things to be excited about.
So, when a simple picture of a player in training is shared to be seen online by over 100,000 people in fewer than 24 hours, it may well be cast aside as international break fodder. However, this time around, Chelsea supporters have every right to be getting excited.
Chelsea shared a series of photos from the training ground via the official club website on Monday with the players not away with the countries preparing to face Nottingham Forest this weekend. Enzo Maresca’s side travel to the City Ground in the Saturday early kick-off.
Chelsea share training ground images
Among the 10 images were Jorrel Hato, Robert Sanchez, Alejandro Garnacho, Facundo Buonanotte and Trevoh Chalobah. However, the player who caught attention more than others was Romeo Lavia.
An image of Lavia passing the ball with a huge grin on his face was shared on social media platform X by @Blue_Footy and went somewhat viral overnight with 14,000 likes and over 400 retweets.
There’s not very much about the image but, as they say, a picture paints a thousand words. Lavia signed for Chelsea from Southampton in August 2023 on a £53 million, but has struggled to enjoy his football due to injury problems.
When arriving at Stamford Bridge, Lavia lacked a pre-season due to the preceding transfer saga and suffered an ankle injury when trying to get up to speed. Then, on his debut against Crystal Palace in December 2023, he picked up a season-ending thigh injury.
Hamstring and thigh problems continued to limit the midfielder with just 16 Premier League appearances last season. This term, he missed the first five league matches with a muscle problem but has now come off the bench in the last two.
Lavia hailed as ‘one of the best’ by Enzo Maresca
That’s why Chelsea fans are so pleased to see the player smiling in training - he’s had a rough time of it. The photo also brings about a feeling that Lavia has so much to offer Maresca’s side that he has not been able to get the momentum to do.
The London outfit are blessed by having Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the centre of the park, with Cole Palmer playing in a more advanced central position. However, with Fernandez and Palmer both struggling with injuries, this is the moment for a fully fit Lavia to step up.
Chelsea play four times before the end of the month and keeping the former Saints man playing football is vital. If he’s loving life in west London too, then all the better for how he may play on the pitch.
Speaking about the player in April, Maresca said: "When he is fit, he is one of the best midfielders. He can defend very well, he can attack, he can break the line and pass between the lines.
"I spent one entire season with Romeo when I was Under-23 coach at Manchester City, so I know him very well. For us, it was like Reece James. They are both top players. The only shame for us is that unfortunately we need to manage them. We need to protect them, but there is no doubt that Chelsea with Reece and Romeo is a better team."
In other news, Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea early injury news as 5 ruled out and 5 doubts.
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