Chelsea’s Liam Delap out until December with Hamstring injury

Chelsea striker Liam Delap could be out until December after suffering a hamstring injury before the international break, manager Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday.

Delap, who joined the Blues from Ipswich for £30 million in June, has played in all three of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this season but was forced off early in the 2-0 win over Fulham on August 30.

“Liam, I think it’s around 10 to 12 weeks, so a long way to go,” Maresca told reporters.

Chelsea have recalled Marc Guiu from his loan spell at Sunderland to provide cover after Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson departed for Bayern Munich on deadline day. Joao Pedro, who arrived from Brighton in July, is another forward option, while academy talent Tyrique George was also deployed as a striker against Fulham.

“We have the injury for sure now in this moment as a number nine,” Maresca said. “The only one is Guiu. And Joao also can play there. Against Fulham, we used Tyrique as a nine. So we can also think about him.”

England international Cole Palmer is nearing a return after missing wins over West Ham and Fulham due to a groin injury, while Maresca said Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, Andrey Santos, and Moises Caicedo are all doubtful after late returns from international duty.

“The three Brazilian players arrived yesterday, they didn’t train, they did some recovery sessions,” he explained. “Moises arrived last night. They’re all a question mark for tomorrow.”

Maresca also revealed that winger Alejandro Garnacho, signed from Manchester United, is still building fitness.

Chelsea, currently second in the Premier League after three games, are also facing scrutiny after being charged by the Football Association with 74 alleged breaches of agent payment rules between 2009 and 2022, mainly under former owner Roman Abramovich.

“I know the club are satisfied about the situation, about the process,” Maresca said. “Personally I don’t have anything to add because I don’t have any idea. If I say something I could be wrong. I just focus on the pitch side, which I can control. I don’t think the players are too worried about the situation to be honest.”