Mauricio Pochettino explains Romeo Lavia absence from Bournemouth tie with Chelsea injury update

Mauricio Pochettino has issued an update on Romeo Lavia. The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined Chelsea from Southampton late into the summer transfer window, has been nursing an ankle issue since he arrived at Stamford Bridge.

Lavia had been training individually at Cobham to build his match fitness, but soon after joining the first-team group last week he picked up a knock. With the teenage sensation's return expected to be pushed back, Pochettino was asked for an update ahead of the Blues' clash against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.

The 51-year-old described Lavia's situation as 'sad' and confirmed that he'll have more information on Monday once he's had a scan. Pochettino said: «We are really disappointed because he was training really well last week in the international break.

»He twisted his ankle and now we are waiting for the results on Monday from the doctor. We hope it's not a big issue but in the last week he has not been training with the team.

«It's a sad situation because he was nearly fit to be involved again with the team. Yes, now we need to wait and hopefully it's not a big issue for him and the team of course.»

It has been rumoured on social media that Lavia could be out of action for as long as six-weeks and Pocehttino was asked this assessment was true or false. The former Tottenham boss said: «We don't know because we need to assess him. He twisted his ankle and now we need to assess him. We do not know the time for him to recover.»

As Pochettino looks to transform Chelsea's fortunes, the Blues manager was asked why his side struggled before the international break. He said: «I think the team's performance was good in the first month. I think we didn't get the points we deserved as a team.

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