Chelsea have suffered a blow with striker Liam Delap ruled out for up to three months after picking up a hamstring injury against Fulham.
The 22-year-old lasted just 14 minutes before being replaced in the 2-0 victory, with scans later confirming he will miss 10 to 12 weeks.
Manager Enzo Maresca revealed that although surgery was avoided, Delap will not feature until November at the earliest. His return, however, could provide a much-needed boost during Chelsea’s busy festive run of fixtures.
Signed from Ipswich for £30m in June, Delap had quickly established himself as an option in Maresca’s frontline. He deatured in all three of Chelsea’s opening matches. His absence has forced the club to recall Marc Guiu from Sunderland to bolster attacking depth following Nicolas Jackson’s £70.5m move to Bayern Munich.
Palmer nears return as FA charges cast shadow
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While Joao Pedro is expected to lead the line in Delap’s absence, Maresca has also confirmed that Cole Palmer is edging closer to a return. The England international, who netted 18 goals and provided 13 assists last season, has resumed partial training after recovering from a groin injury. He could feature against Brentford if passed fit.
Despite Chelsea’s strong start to the season, with seven points from three games, the mood at Stamford Bridge has been unsettled by news off the pitch. The Football Association has charged the club with 74 alleged breaches related to payments to agents and third-party deals between 2009 and 2022.
Potential sanctions range from fines and transfer bans to points deductions, though Chelsea’s high level of cooperation may reduce the impact. Maresca insisted he is focused only on pitch matters, leaving the legal battles in the hands of the board.
Tags: Liam Delap, hamstring injury, injury layoff, Chelsea, #CFC, #KTBFFH, Enzo Maresca, #BRECHE, Cole Palmer, FA, 74 alleged breaches, Joao Pedro.
