SHARE

Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia impressed so much earlier this year he is likely to be a part of Belgium’s World Cup squad, despite only returning from injury this week.

That’s according to La Dernière Heure, who predict the youngster will be the ‘big surprise’ in Roberto Martinez’s selection.

They explain the expanded 26-man squads offers a possibility of a fifth midfield player being included in Belgium’s squad.

At the moment that will be a battle between Dennis Praet, Orel Mangala and Albert Sambi Lokonga but they could be overtaken by a ‘big surprise’ on the list, Southampton midfielder Lavia.

He ‘impressed so much’ at the start of the season that Martinez himself admitted that he would have had him in his squad again if not for his injury before the Nations League games in September.

That hamstring injury has seen him out of action since, but Southampton announced he has returned to training today.

The youngster will now be battling to get back up to speed for Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side and DH say that he ‘has everything’ to be a ‘fresh asset’ for the Red Devils in Qatar.