Mauricio Pochettino reveals Romeo Lavia is NOT ready to start for Chelsea and needs ‘a few weeks’ to build up his fitness… but Moises Caicedo is available to feature against Luton

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Romeo Lavia will not be ready to start for Chelsea for several weeks as he works on his fitness after arriving from Southampton.

The midfielder joined the club in a £58million deal after rejecting interest from Liverpool but is yet to make his debut, having missed out against West Ham. 

Boss Pochettino expects Lavia will need longer to build up his sharpness in comparison to his team-mates, most of whom benefitted from a full pre-season.

Record signing Moises Caicedo, however, is in contention to line up from the off for the visit of newcomers Luton after his first appearance last weekend.

‘Mo [Caicedo], yes, is ready to start,’ Pochettino said at his press conference.

‘Lavia, no. He needs a few weeks to be ready to be involved with the team. He is working to try and catch his team-mates.

‘For Romeo, we need to wait a few weeks but Moises is ready.’

Lavia is yet to make his first competitive appearance this season. 

He appeared on the bench for Southampton’s opening Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday but was subsequently left out by Russell Martin. 

Pochettino currently has nine players ruled out of action, with Mykhailo Mudryk the latest consigned to the treatment table after picking up an injury in training.

Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka, Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Benoit Badiashile, Marcus Bettinelli, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah are also out. 

More to follow.