Chelsea handed huge double injury boost ahead of tough Aston Villa test

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Evening Standard

·24 December 2025

Chelsea handed huge double injury boost ahead of tough Aston Villa test

Blues’ forward line has been boosted with positive injury news

Chelsea are able to welcome back both Estevao and Liam Delap for the visit of Aston Villa on December 27.

Delap has been out with a shoulder injury which he sustained in the 0-0 draw at Bournemouth earlier in December, while fellow summer recruit Estevao has been out with a “small muscular problem” that saw him miss the 3-1 win at Cardiff last week.

Enzo Maresca previously suggested the pair were in contention to face Aston Villa after Christmas, and has now confirmed the good news.

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“[Estevao] is back. He is available for Saturday,” Maresca told reporters on Wednesday.

“And also Liam Delap, he is available for Saturday."

There is still no sign of a return for Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill, who are longer-term absentees.

Chelsea face a daunting task of stopping Villa, who have won 10 games in a row across all competitions.

After a troublesome start, Villa are now firmly in the Premier League title race having built up a seven-point gap over fourth-placed Chelsea.

“They are doing fantastic,” Maresca said on Villa. “They are doing fantastic this season, last season, years ago with Unai [Emery]. They are doing a fantastic job.

“As you said, at this moment they have won 10 games in a row. Hopefully we can win the game on Saturday."