Chelsea: Enzo Maresca confirms Liam Delap return as Carabao Cup rotation planned | OneFootball

The striker is back after two months out as boss plans changes

Liam Delap is ready to return for Chelsea, Enzo Maresca has confirmed, as several star players are set to be rested for the Carabao Cup.

The striker has been sidelined for two months with a hamstring issue, but returned to training last week and is now ready for his first competitive minutes since August.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the fourth-round trip, Maresca said of Delap: “He took part in a complete session yesterday and he is available for tomorrow.

“No, he will not play 90 minutes. He's been out two months, so he needs to be gradually brought back to 100 per cent [fitness].”

Maresca revealed after Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland that Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo will all carrying fitness niggles, which were preventing them from training fully with the squad.

And the trio are expected to be rested on Wednesday. Maresca said: "They are probably players that need to be protected. Probably tomorrow. We will see.

We need to rotate, we need to protect players ... we are going to make some changes

Enzo Maresca

“Enzo, Moi and Joao, they are all different players for different reasons. We need to protect them.

“The reason why is that we need to rotate, we need to protect players. If we go with the same XI, we will struggle through the season. We are going to make some changes, I don't know how many, but we will make changes.

“I don't know if it's going to be nine or 10 like with Forest and Ajax, but for sure we will need to make some."