Romeo Lavia missed Chelsea's pre-season opener after Xabi Alonso confirmed the midfielder suffered from hamstring discomfort.
The majority of the Blues squad got valuable minutes under their belts during a 6-4 pre-season victory over Western Sydney Wanderers.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 1: Romeo Lavia of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 1, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Lavia hasn't completed a full game for Chelsea since arriving from SouthamptonCredit: Getty
However, the 22-year-old was not among those involved having struggled for fitness ever since arriving from Southampton three years ago.
Recurring hamstring issues have limited the youngster to just 21 appearances for the west London outfit. Lavia is yet to complete 90 minutes in Chelsea colours.
The same problems resurfaced ahead of a pre-season match on Tuesday at the Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Chelsea's new boss spoke on Lavia's status: "He felt something in the hamstring.
"Not a big thing. We are expecting him to be fit for Saturday, hopefully."
It is hoped that the player can return for the upcoming clash against Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, which will also be played in Sydney.
However, Lavia's frustrating injury record may prompt the club to adopt a precautionary approach with him.
Prior to the match, Chelsea released a 'diary entry' from the player, reflecting on how he was feeling ahead of the new season.
He wrote: "We have all enjoyed working under the new manager, and he has great experience in the game.
"Pre-season so far has been about getting the basics in place to build on, because we want to have a great season.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alsono.
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Chelsea have spent over £200million in new signings since Alonso arrivedCredit: Getty
"The manager was a great player, one of the best of his generation. You see that when he steps into a training session.
"He starts pinging balls around in a way only those who have played at the top level can. It’s a privilege to be working with him, especially as a midfielder.
"Personally, I’m feeling good. I did a lot of work with people at the club to ensure I was ready and could start pre-season strong once we got going.
"Now come the games, and we’re looking forward to getting out in front of the fans."
Meanwhile, Chelsea managed to navigate the contest with Western Sydney with no further injuries despite playing on a patchy pitch.
The venue had hosted three rugby league matches in the days leading up to the football clash.
Filip Jorgensen looks on during a Chelsea training session
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Jorgensen has left Chelsea's pre-season tour amid growing transfer interestCredit: Getty
Lavia was not the only player absent from the travelling squad to not appear, with Filip Jorgensen, Jorrel Hato and Mamadou Sarr left out.
Jorgensen was on a flight back to Europe to finalise a transfer to the Blues' sister club, Strasbourg.
Meanwhile, Hato and Sarr were deemed too unfit to start and played no part in the match.