Chelsea boss rules out £53m signing from games against Crystal Palace, Machester City and Liverpool

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says Romeo Lavia is still a long way from getting back to first-team training and won't be ready for their League Cup final against Liverpool later this month. 

The £53million summer signing from Southampton has played only 32 minutes of Premier League football. He didn't make the squad until Christmas Eve against Wolves and came off the bench to help the team beat Crystal Palace three days later at Stamford Bridge. 

Asked if there was a chance he could make his way back before the all-important League final, the Chelsea boss said no chance. He told LondonWorld: "No. He is not training with the team. He is still recovering. But no, no, impossible. Still not on the pitch."

Chelsea looking for momentum at Palace

The Blues recorded their best performance of the season at Villa Park and manager Pochettino is hoping that could be the turning point his young squad needs. Nicolas Jackson, Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo all enjoyed stellar performances. 

Pochettino has been quick to point out that his team is young but admitted he was looking forward to the Villa performance being the standard going forward, he added: "Yes. I think before we also had some good performances but after were not consistent enough. But maybe it can be the starting point for us to start to be consistent and to show more often this type of performance."

The Argentinian was also quick to point out that the players were keen on keeping the performance which gives him confidence that they are on the right path. 

He added: "Always we believe that is the moment and the time to be consistent. Hope because it's going to be a very good thing for us. I think the players deserve it because they are working very hard from the start of the season.

"This type of game shows our capacity and the talent we have available for the squad. We need to behave in the way that we behave and approach in the way that we approach. There's too many good things to keep now for the future."

Both Chelsea and Palace are in desperate need of points ahead of this game with the Blues in 11th on the league table while Palace might be sleepwalking into a relegation battle after just two wins in their last 14 games in all competitions.