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By KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER Published: 02: 32 AEDT, 16 January 2026 | Updated: 03: 20 AEDT, 16 January 2026 30 View comments Chelsea have reminded their players to wash their hands after a virus outbreak within the club which has struck down several of their stars and staff members. It was in a Thursday morning meeting when they spoke to their squad on the hygiene basics after Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens missed Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat by Arsenal because of illness. Both are still at home trying to recover in time for Saturday’s Premier League visit of Brentford after they were described as having ‘dangerously high temperatures’. Several staff members were also affected overnight, and new head coach Liam Rosenior is keen to make sure it does not lead to more of his stars being sidelined before the weekend. ‘Our club doctors are doing everything they can to contain what looks to be a virus because some members of our staff have come down with it as well, ’ Rosenior said. ‘We had a meeting today with the players about washing your hands, the basics, which is really important and hopefully we can contain it. We have a busy period, so we need everyone ready, to be fit and healthy. ’ Rosenior also issued updates on Reece James and Cole Palmer after they missed the 3-2 loss to Arsenal with minor hip and thigh issues respectively. Liam Rosenior has impressed upon his Chelsea side the importance of washing their hands as they battle a sickness bug ‘Both of them are training today, ’ Rosenior said at his pre-Brentford briefing. ‘We need to assess them after training, to make sure they come through all of the protocols they need to come through. It would be great to have them back in the squad. At the moment, it looks like they could be. ’ In a further injury update on Romeo Lavia, who has been mysteriously missing for the last two months, Rosenior said: ‘Romeo is on the pitch. He's not with the group, but seeing him out on the pitch doing his rehab, he's looking really, really good. ‘I love him, as a lad, as a player. He's someone I would love to work with in the long term because he's an outstanding footballer. The most important thing for him now is to make sure we don't push him too hard so that when he does come back, he's back for good and I can get some real work into him tactically. But for me, he's a player that I can't wait to have back in the group. ’ No timeframe has been placed on Lavia’s return as of yet. Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to terminate the loan of Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton so that he can move to Leeds for the remainder of the season instead. His was always a curious case, with the 21-year-old struggling to receive any meaningful minutes with the Blues. ‘We're looking into the best solution for him, ’ Rosenior said. 'I'm in constant communication with the sporting directors and the ownership about potential transfers that could be good for us, both coming in and coming out. I want to look at this group. I want to assess this group because you get good surprises. If something is right for us in any position, that's going to help the team and the club, we'll look at it. ’
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