ROMEO LAVIA missed the trip to Wolves due to a hamstring injury, Enzo Maresca confirmed.
The Belgian youngster, 20, played just once in the entirety of his debut season at Stamford Bridge due to a series of injuries.
Romeo Lavia’s injury woes have struck again with a hamstring strainGetty
He started the 2-0 opening-weekend defeat to Manchester City, playing 67 minutes alongside Moises Caicedo before being replaced by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Lavia then came on for the final six minutes against Servette in Conference League qualifying.
And he was just beginning to build confidence and make his mark in the starting XI.
Lavia insisted “we are building something amazing” in West London while Cole Palmer tipped the ex-Southampton man to blow fans away this term.
But his injury woes returned and the crocked £58million star was ruled out of today’s clash away at Wolves.
Maresca tried to play down the seriousness of the problem, though.
The Chelsea manager revealed: “Romeo has a small hamstring issue but not a huge concern.”
Carney Chukwuemeka also missed out on the matchday squad at Molineux amid reports linking him with a transfer exit.
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New signing Joao Felix is involved following his permanent switch from Atletico Madrid.
However, he must settle for a place on the bench alongside fellow Portuguese stars Renato Veiga and Pedro Neto.
Every Chelsea signing under Todd Boehly
Here is a list of all Chelsea’s signings under Todd Boehly…
Raheem Sterling – £50m
Kalidou Koulibaly £33m
Gabriel Slonina – £8m
Carney Chukweumeka – £20m
Marc Cucurella – £57.5m
Cesare Casadei – £13.3m
Wesley Fofana – £70m
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £10.3m
Denis Zakaria – £2.7m (Loan fee)
David Datro Fofana – £10.6m
Benoit Badiashile – £33.7m
Andrey Santos – £11.1m
Joao Felix – £9.7m (Loan fee)
Mykhailo Mudryk – £62m
Noni Madueke – £30m
Malo Gusto – £26.75m
Enzo Fernandez – £107.8m
Christopher Nkunku – £52m
Diego Moreira – FREE
Nicolas Jackson – £31.5m
Angelo Gabriel – £13m
Lesley Ugochukwu – £23.3m
Axel Disasi – £38.9m
Robert Sanchez – £20m
Moises Caicedo – £100m
Romeo Lavia – £53.2m
Deivid Washington – £13.7m
Cole Palmer – £40.1m
Djordje Petrovic – £13.6m
Tosin Adarabioyo – FREE
Marc Guiu – £5.1m
Caleb Wiley – £8.63m
Renato Veiga – £12m
Aarón Anselmino – £14m
Omari Kellyman – £19.2m
Filip Jorgensen – £21m
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – £30.2m
Pedro Neto – £51m
Joao Felix – £42.6m
New No7 Neto left Wolves for Chelsea this summer in a £54m but was given a warm reception by the home fans when he got off the bus on his return.
It meant Maresca opted for skipper Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in midfield – with the ex-Brighton man dropping into a deeper role to fill the Lavia’s spot.
Noni Madueke started on the right – following his X-rated assessment of Wolverhampton on social media – with Mykhailo Mudryk on the left.
Cole Palmer supported striker Nicolas Jackson – meaning Christopher Nkunku dropped to the bench.
Maresca stuck with a back four of Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella in front of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
