Chelsea handed injury boost as Enzo Maresca provides fresh update on Romeo Lavia and Reece James ahead of Brighton showdown

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that mercurial midfielder Romeo Lavia will be available for selection against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend. This will come as music to the ears of the Blues fans, as Lavia has been on the sidelines since featuring against Manchester City in the 2024-25 Premier League opener.

Since joining Chelsea from Southampton in 2023 for a reported fee of €62.1 million, Lavia has only featured in three matches for the west London club.

The 20-year-old impressed in the course of the preseason as well as in the Premier League opener against his former side Manchester City. However, he saw his progress curtailed following a hamstring injury sustained against Servette in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League match against Brighton on Saturday (September 28), Enzo Maresca revealed that Lavia is fit to play against the Seagulls. He also provided an update on the fitness of Reece James. He said in the pre-match conference (via Football London):

''We will see. One more session now and we will decide but finally he is back. Romeo is available tomorrow. The only one is Reece.’’

Enzo Maresca speaks on Chelsea’s form and on keeping three clean sheets in a row

Apart from providing an update on the fitness of players who were on the sidelines, Enzo Maresca also gave his assessment of Chelsea’s current form. Things are starting to look to have clicked for the Blues after picking up 10 points in their first five Premier League games of the 2024-25 season (W3, D1, L1).

Enzo Maresca’s side have played eight games in total across competitions since the season began in earnest and have kept clean sheets in their last three games while securing a victory.

Their last win was against Barrow in the EFL Cup. They walloped the League Two club 5-0 at Stamford Bridge to book their spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

In the pre-match press conference of their clash with Brighton, Maresca spoke on Chelsea’s current form and on their three consecutive clean sheets.

On Chelsea’s form, the Italian manager said:

''The focus is just about the game. If we are able to win, it is important to continue with that momentum. I will be happy to share three points with the fans at home."

On keeping three clean sheets in a row, he said:

''It's important because we don't concede. That means we have more chances to win. It's also important the feeling we have. We conceded against City two goals but we didn't concede many chances and they are a team that every game have a big amount of chances and goals. We conceded two against Wolves but didn't concede a shot in the second-half.

"We are in the right direction. It doesn't mean that every game we are not going to concede because this is not real. It's important that we improve.’’