Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Liam Delap is set to be sidelined for 10-12 weeks following a hamstring injury picked up before the international break. This means that the English forward will not be available until December.
The 22-year-old is expected to begin training again in November, with his anticipated return to play coming shortly after ahead of the busy festive fixture schedule.
Delap picked up the injury during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham in late August. He was substituted for Tyrique George just 14 minutes into the match after receiving treatment for a leg injury on the pitch. Softfootball understands that no surgery is required on the hamstring injury.
According to Fabrizio Romano via his X handle, Maresca has confirmed that Liam Delap’s injury means he will not be available until December. The setback is a major blow for the Blues who had been counting on the young striker this season. He tweeted:
Enzo Maresca: Liam Delap will be out for 10/12 weeks, unfortunately it’s long way to go.
The injury leaves Chelsea short on strikers, with the club recalling Marc Guiu less than a month into his loan at Sunderland the day after Delap picked up the problem to provide cover.
The former Barcelona star has found minutes hard to come by since making the move to England, but he could now be handed his shot as Maresca looks to maintain his squad depth.
Joao Pedro will likely be Maresca’s preferred option to lead the line following his summer move from Brighton, while Nicolas Jackson is no longer in the picture following his loan to Bayern Munich.
However, the third option George was expected to then join Fulham in a £22m move which collapsed on deadline day. Cole Palmer missed England’s World Cup qualifying wins over Andorra and Serbia and is in doubt for Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Brentford on Saturday.
Next up is another London derby as Enzo Maresca’s side face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday night. However, the Italian tactician has been handed some bad news on the injury front ahead of the trip.
