Chelsea are facing a midfield conundrum for their early Saturday visit to Leicester after Romeo Lavia missed both of Belgium’s matches due to a hamstring complaint, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez each not expected back at Cobham until 48 hours before that trip.
Caicedo and Fernandez are due to represent Ecuador and Argentina respectively late on Tuesday, with their World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Peru due to go on into the early hours of Wednesday morning, UK time.
The South American duo will then travel back to London before potentially returning to training for the first time with their Chelsea team-mates on Thursday.
Chelsea insiders say player welfare is their No 1 priority, and that they remain in constant contact with their representatives and the respective federations throughout international breaks.
Time difference considerations are factored in for those returning to identify the most appropriate reintegration programme.
It remains to be seen if and when Lavia will train fully this week.
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia missed both of Belgium’s Nations League matches with a hamstring complaint
South American duo Moises Caicedo (left) and Enzo Fernandez (right) are not expected to return to Cobham until 48 hours before Saturday’s clash
Enzo Maresca takes his Chelsea side to his former club Leicester in the first match of the weekend
He was forced off during Chelsea’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last Sunday but unlike others, he still went away with Belgium.
However, he was unable to face Italy or Israel in either of their Nations League clashes. While away, Lavia was quoted by Belgian media as saying he had a ‘little knock’ with Chelsea hopeful he can be passed fit to face Leicester.