Chelsea injury news: Maresca confirms big boost for Blues ahead of crucial Fulham clash | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has confirmed Romeo Lavia is in contention to be part of the Chelsea squad to face Fulham on Sunday.

Lavia has endured another frustrating season through injury and has played just 11 times in the Premier League for the Blues.

His latest hamstring problem has kept him out since 16 March, and he has played only three times for Enzo Maresca’s side since 15 December.

But the 21-year-old has been back in team training and could return to the squad again when Chelsea make the short trip to Fulham on Sunday.

“Romeo is back,” Maresca said. “He’s training with us and he can be available for Sunday.

“With him, we are going to try the same thing we have been trying with Reece (James). I would like to play Reece every three days but we are trying to manage him, to help him.

“We are going to try to do exactly the same thing with Romeo because he is, for us, an important player.”

Lavia has experienced an injury nightmare since his big money move from Southampton in 2023.

The midfielder made just one Chelsea appearance in his debut season with the club and while he has struggled to stay fit this season, Maresca has previously insisted that the Belgian’s increase in game time this campaign represents progress.

“If you compare Romeo’s number of games this season with last, he has already improved because this season it was difficult to play any less,” Maresca said earlier this month. “But the target with Romeo is to try to keep him fit. And to next year play more games than this season.”

Chelsea remain without defender Wesley Fofana for the game against Fulham, however, with the Frenchman set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

Striker Marc Guiu is also continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury in the hope that he can play again before the season ends.

Mykhailo Mudryk, meanwhile, continues to be ineligible while the results of a failed drug test are examined.