Why Four Chelsea Stars Missed Friendly Win As Xabi Alonso Offers Romeo Lavia Fitness Update | OneFootball

Chelsea have been dealing with several injury problems. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Romeo Lavia did not make an appearance in the pre-season win over Western Sydney Wanderers due to a minor injury problem.

Chelsea beat Western Sydney Wanderers 6-4 on Tuesday evening to start their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia with a win.

Alonso deployed as many as 11 substitutes in the game, as he clearly wanted to give as many players a chance to impress, including Joao Pedro, who eventually secured Chelsea the win with a second-half hat-trick.

Youngster Reggie Watson played the full 90 minutes, a potential sign of Alonso's admiration.

However, Lavia surprisingly stayed on the bench throughout the game, which meant 16-year-old Reggie Watson had to play the full match.

After the game, Alonso clarified that the decision was a precaution as the Belgium international was not 100 per cent fit.

“He felt something in the hamstring. Not a big thing,” said the new Chelsea manager about Lavia’s situation.

“We are expecting him to be fit for Saturday, hopefully.”

Considering Lavia’s poor injury record, it is hardly a surprise that Chelsea and Alonso did not want to risk it for a pre-season game.

On a more positive note, it should also be a really minor issue if Alonso expects Lavia to be back in the team for Saturday’s friendly against Tottenham Hotspur at Accor Stadium.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Three first-team players were left out of the squad in Chelsea's pre-season win

Aside from Lavia, there were also a few other first-team players missing from Chelsea's pre-season game, with Jorrel Hato, Mamadou Sarr, and Filip Jorgensen all left out of the matchday squad.

Hato and Sarr’s absences are said to have been planned, since they had only joined Chelsea’s pre-season for a few days due to representing their countries, the Netherlands and Senegal, respectively, in the World Cup.

The pair are understandably at different stages of their pre-season plan compared to other players in the pre-season squad.

Jorgensen, on the other hand, has flown back to the UK ahead of a potential summer exit.

The Denmark international has been linked with Coventry City and BlueCo sister club Strasbourg. The latter are said to have been leading the race for Jorgensen's signature.

Jorgensen’s possible exit would make space for Mike Penders, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg, to compete for the number one spot at Chelsea with Robert Sanchez.

Penders is yet to report back for pre-season and is still on a break after representing Belgium in the World Cup.

This leaves Chelsea with Sanchez, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, and Ted Curd as current goalkeeper options for the pre-season.