Chelsea injury latest: Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill and more | OneFootball

Chelsea injury latest: midfield crisis deepens after Caicedo dismissal

Chelsea are once again confronting uncomfortable questions about squad depth and resilience, with the latest injury developments landing at precisely the wrong moment. Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal may have showcased spirit, but the red card shown to Moises Caicedo has left Enzo Maresca facing a significant tactical puzzle just as key midfield cover remains unavailable.

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The Blues’ reigning Player of the Season received an initial yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Mikel Merino during the first half of Sunday’s feisty 1-1 Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge, only for referee Anthony Taylor to overturn his own decision and produce a red following a VAR review.

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It left Chelsea needing to play for more than 50 minutes against the top flight leaders with 10 men, though they actually took the lead through Trevoh Chalobah’s header after the break before Merino equalised to ensure the points were shared.

Caicedo will now serve a three-match domestic suspension after being dismissed for serious foul play, his first red card for Chelsea in any competition, and first in 130 Premier League appearances for the Blues and Brighton.

He will miss Wednesday’s trip to struggling Leeds and the clash with Bournemouth on December 6, plus the visit of Everton to west London on December 13.

Caicedo can play in the Champions League against Atalanta on December 9, though he won’t be eligible for domestic action until the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie away at third tier Cardiff on December 16.

Against this backdrop, Chelsea require clarity on when injured midfielders can return, with multiple absences continuing to shape selection debates. There was, at least, a small boost at the weekend. Captain Reece James excelled in a central role, offering composure and leadership. Cole Palmer also returned to the matchday squad for the first time since September after recovering from groin and toe injuries, although he remained an unused substitute.

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Below is the full Chelsea injury latest as preparations intensify for the midweek trip to Elland Road.

Romeo Lavia fitness concerns persist

Romeo Lavia’s Chelsea career has been persistently shaped by rehabilitation rather than rhythm. Since arriving from Southampton in a £53 million deal in the summer of 2023, the midfielder has managed just 29 appearances, each stop start campaign punctuated by another physical setback.

This season looked different in its opening weeks, with carefully managed minutes pointing towards sustained involvement. That optimism faded on November 5 when he pulled up with a quadriceps problem during the Champions League draw away to Qarabag. Ironically, the issue occurred despite Maresca’s attempts to protect him through rotation and restraint.

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The latest injury was expected to keep Lavia sidelined for at least a month, leaving his return pencilled in for December, although medical clarity remains elusive.

“We feel a shame for him, especially for him,” Maresca said after the game in Baku. “He’s not able to be fit for a long, long period.

“We will see now. It’s too early to understand what kind of injury. I think it’s his quad.”

Chelsea’s immediate challenge will be managing workloads elsewhere if Lavia’s reintegration slips deeper into winter.

Potential return date: December

Dario Essugo ahead of schedule

Caicedo’s sending off was preceded by welcome training ground news, with summer arrival Dario Essugo stepping up his recovery faster than initially forecast.

The 19 year old has been absent since sustaining a thigh injury while on international duty with Portugal’s Under 21s in September, an issue severe enough to require surgery. Early projections had him returning only in late 2025 or early 2026, suggesting a lengthy rehabilitation timeline.

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On Friday, however, Maresca confirmed the youngster had resumed training well ahead of schedule. Essugo was not considered for selection against Arsenal and remains short of match fitness, but the shift in expectation allows Chelsea to view December as a gradual pathway back toward involvement.

His physical profile and ball winning ability could serve as useful insurance while Caicedo completes his suspension and Lavia remains unavailable.

Potential return date: December

Levi Colwill long rehabilitation

Levi Colwill’s injury represents a different category of absence altogether, with long term consequences stretching across the campaign. The England defender has not featured at all this season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury shortly following the team’s return for pre season training at Cobham in August, after completing the Club World Cup.

Surgery followed and early assessments suggested he would miss the bulk of the 2025-26 season. Public updates have been limited since, yet reports earlier in November suggested progress has been steady, with Colwill off crutches for over a month and no recorded setbacks.

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There remains cautious optimism that he might yet contribute before the campaign closes, although no competitive timeline has been set.

Potential return date: Spring or summer 2026

While Chelsea continue to welcome players back one by one, the latest injury position still leaves Maresca balancing minutes and improvising formations. With suspensions compounding availability concerns, the margin for error remains thin as a demanding December schedule accelerates.