Moises Caicedo
Moises Caicedo has played just 14 minutes this season(Image: May James/AFP)
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Belgium head coach Mark van Bommel has confirmed Romeo Lavia will not start his side's Nations League clash at home to Turkey on Friday evening, with a "cautious" approach being taken.
The Chelsea midfielder has spent large chunks of his Stamford Bridge tenure being dominated by muscular injuries and there was a scare during Belgium's 1-0 defeat to France on Monday.
Lavia was taken off 85 minutes into the Nations League defeat to Les Bleus with what looked like cramp. Van Bommel did not want to take any risk with the 22-year-old midfielder due to his injury-riddled history and decided to make a change.
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Given the fact he played the majority of Monday's match, the cramp he suffered and the tight, four-day turnaround between matches, Belgium boss Van Bommel is taking a careful and considered approach with Lavia.
Speaking ahead of Belgium's clash with Turkey, the former Netherlands international said: "Romeo came on as a substitute against Italy and played 85 minutes against France. He did a fantastic job.
"You can already assume that I won't be starting him. Chelsea are being cautious with him, and so are we. We want to make optimal use of his qualities."
Romeo Lavia in action for Belgium in their defeat to France recently
Romeo Lavia starred for Belgium in their defeat to France recently(Image: Ewen Gavet)
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Despite being beaten by France earlier this week, Lavia impressed in the centre of midfield for Belgium. The former Manchester City man admitted post-match that the intensity took its toll on him, hence the substitution with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Speaking to Belgian outlet DH Net after the game, Lavia said: "It had been a long time since I'd played at such an intensity. It's a process.
"From the start, I felt very comfortable; it's the kind of match everyone loves to play. It's all coming naturally."
Lavia has been almost an ever-present figure for Xabi Alonso in the Premier League this season. The midfielder has started four of Chelsea's five top-flight games so far this term but was an unused substitute in the defeat to Brentford just before the international break.
Romeo Lavia celebrates
Romeo Lavia celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Brighton in August(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
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Alonso will be hoping Lavia arrives back to Cobham fit and available ahead of the home clash with Bournemouth in just over a week's time. Chelsea will also be desperate for Moises Caicedo to return to action for the visit of the Cherries.
Caicedo has played just 14 minutes since the start of the campaign due to a persistent calf injury. There was some hope that the Ecuadorian, who was left out of his country's squad for the ongoing international break, would return in time for the defeat to Brentford last month but he was not named in the squad.