Romeo Lavia says he is ready to rewrite his story at Chelsea — free from injury, growing in confidence, and eager to make his mark on the biggest stage.

The 22-year-old Belgian midfielder is approaching what would be the longest injury-free run of his Chelsea career. Should he complete 60 minutes in Friday's match against Brentford, he will surpass his previous record of 518 consecutive minutes without injury, a tally that includes pre-season fixtures.

It has been a painstaking journey. Lavia made just one appearance in his debut season at the club after suffering a serious hamstring injury. In his second campaign, he missed 33 matches — an improvement on the 42 he sat out the year before — and it was only last term that he began featuring in roughly half of Chelsea's games. He has now remained available for the entirety of pre-season and the opening weeks of the current campaign.

Breaking through the mental block

Lavia credits careful preparation for his improved fitness, telling BBC Sport that he follows a detailed checklist to ensure he is in peak condition ahead of every game. "There is so much that goes on behind the scenes," he said. "It's a big process but we're doing well at the moment."

Manager Xabi Alonso played a key role in pushing Lavia beyond his comfort zone, encouraging him to shake off a "mental block" around completing 90 minutes during a pre-season friendly against AC Milan in August.

"I've learned you can always go further than you think you can," Lavia said. "You can always push your limits, especially when you feel like everything is going against you. It's always easy to think about giving up — but luckily, with the help of team-mates, staff, and people close to me outside football, we've been able to create a sort of bubble where you concentrate only on what you can control."

Growing importance at Stamford Bridge

Lavia has become an increasingly central figure in Alonso's midfield, lining up alongside captain Reece James, who transitioned from right-back into a deeper role. His importance has grown further after Moises Caicedo was limited to just 14 minutes this season, and Enzo Fernandez departed for Manchester City in a £125m deadline-day transfer.

He draws inspiration from team-mates Reece James and Wesley Fofana, who each overcame lengthy injury spells to re-establish themselves at the club, and is determined to follow the same path.

"Having this responsibility is not even pressure — it's a privilege," Lavia said. "I'm actually living the dream. This is why you've been playing and training all these years, so just go and enjoy it."

A new-look Chelsea in fine form

Chelsea have transformed their attack with the arrival of Morgan Rogers — a £117m club-record signing from Aston Villa, who previously crossed paths with Lavia in Manchester City's academy — joining Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro to form a potent frontline. The Blues have scored 18 goals across six matches in all competitions.

"It's honestly amazing," Lavia said of the forward trio. "Just the way Morgan has come in and they've all clicked together up front — sometimes I wish I could go in the stands and enjoy watching it. It makes your job easier."

Yet Lavia is measured in his optimism, acknowledging that Chelsea have been "too immature" at times and must remain "realistic" about the process of becoming the force everyone believes they can be.

A moment of release

A personal landmark arrived when Lavia scored his first Chelsea goal in a 4-3 victory over Brighton, a moment he described as one of pure relief and joy.

"It felt like all the work that you're putting in, you gain the reward of it — it was a very emotional moment," he said. "I wanted to change the narrative. My first Premier League goal was against Chelsea [for Southampton in 2022], so it always felt a bit strange. I saw all my team-mates score, so I was waiting for my turn, and when it happened I was very, very happy. I wanted to express it as much as possible with the fans and I really loved it."