Ankle and then hamstring problems meant the Belgian made a solitary appearance in 2023/24 – and a further hamstring irritation ruled Lavia out of three league fixtures at the start of this campaign.

But he is well and truly up and running now, with the 20-year-old’s performances away to Liverpool and at home to Newcastle especially impressive.

It was not an easy journey to this point for Lavia, but he worked hard to stay mentally upbeat which in turn helped him reap the rewards physically when it was time to return to the grass.

‘It was really challenging because you’ve just joined and you’re really excited to show what you can do at such a beautiful club, and then this happened,’ Lavia says of his injuries last season.

‘It’s hard at first, but how can you turn it into something positive? I tried to have that thought in my head, even though sometimes it was very hard.

‘That pushed me to be at my best in my rehab, and to come back and not particularly have to take it step by step when you’re back with the team, and try to be as ready as possible.’

Lavia says his targets this season, besides staying fit, are scoring his first goal for the club – ideally at Stamford Bridge – and helping the team achieve collective success after a couple of tough campaigns.

He knows what he can offer to help reach those goals.

‘My biggest quality is probably the one that keeps things ticking,’ explains Lavia. ‘I like to have everything go through me, and then try to help my teammates to be in better positions with their quality, for example offensively. Defensively we try not to concede, and I try to make their job easier.’

Our next fixture will provide Lavia and his colleagues with one of our sternest tests yet under Enzo Maresca.

A win against Arsenal would be a huge boost heading into the last international break of the year, and the midfielder is ready to do everything to try and achieve that.

‘It’s going to be challenging everywhere on the pitch,’ Lavia stresses. ‘They’re a strong team. It’s a derby, so they’re going to come for it so we have got to be ready, and we will be ready. Whatever the challenge is, we will prepare as much as we can to face it.’