Chelsea injury latest: Wesley Fofana, Liam Delap and more | OneFootball

Chelsea injury latest shapes Maresca’s challenge ahead of Everton test

Chelsea enter another pivotal week defined not only by results but by the state of a squad continually stretched, reshaped and disrupted by injuries at key moments. The defeat to Atalanta in Europe, which followed a sequence of domestic setbacks, has sharpened scrutiny on availability, rhythm and what this team can realistically produce while so many influential players remain sidelined.

Injury setbacks intensify pressure on Maresca

Chelsea find themselves without a win in four games, a run encompassing the 2-1 Champions League loss in Bergamo and frustrating Premier League draws with Arsenal and Bournemouth. The return of Cole Palmer against the Cherries offered brief encouragement, yet the wider landscape remains fractured. Moises Caicedo featured in Europe but will serve the final match of his suspension this weekend, leaving a gap in midfield that is unlikely to be filled with simplicity.

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Against Atalanta, the latest setback emerged in the form of Wesley Fofana, a defender whose long awaited return from serious injury had been carefully managed. Named as a substitute, he was introduced at half time due to Trevoh Chalobah’s booking, only to be forced off 30 minutes later after a collision with Gianluca Scamacca led to a stud catching his right eye. He “was struggling to see” according to Maresca, who added, “He had a problem with his eye. It’s quite bad. He’s struggling to see. Hopefully he can be available for Everton on Saturday.” For a side craving defensive consistency, uncertainty over Fofana’s vision even in the short term is a reminder of the fine margins that continue to shape Chelsea’s season.

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Squad depth tested by Delap and Lavia blows

Liam Delap, whose physical presence and intensity had been seen as an important tactical outlet, suffered another setback against Bournemouth. A tangle with Marcos Senesi ended in an awkward landing on his shoulder, causing visible distress as he walked straight down the tunnel. Maresca’s post match reflections told the story of both concern and fatigue: “Unfortunately, he was already out for two months, and he has to be out again. We don’t know for how long, but it looks quite bad, his shoulder.” Though there is optimism of a four week return, such repeated interruptions risk halting a player who had only just begun to influence the attack with regularity.

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Romeo Lavia’s situation is more complicated. Signed for £53 million in 2023, his Chelsea career has been far more defined by recovery rooms than by game time. His latest problem, sustained in the Champions League match away to Qarabag, leaves Maresca unable to offer even a provisional return timeline. “It’s a muscle problem,” he said. “We don’t know yet when he can be back.” When pressed further, he repeated, “We don’t know.” For a midfielder expected to redefine structure and tempo, this lack of clarity has become a familiar frustration.

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New concerns and long-term recovery timelines

Dario Essugo was initially expected to return late this year, yet hopes were raised when he rejoined training earlier than planned. Those hopes have been tempered again after a setback forced the club to “slow down a little bit”. Maresca confirmed, “For sure, he is not available for the next three games. I don’t think it is serious. We need to check him, as it happened yesterday.” While not as severe as others, the timing contributes to the narrative of a squad continually one step from cohesion.

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Levi Colwill, meanwhile, occupies a different place in the Chelsea injury map. Out since pre season with an ACL injury, he has been progressing steadily, reportedly off crutches for a month and facing no setbacks. The possibility of a return before season’s end remains, an encouraging whisper within an otherwise gruelling injury cycle. His potential re emergence next spring or summer offers long term hope, even if it cannot solve the immediate strain.

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Latest outlook heading into Everton

The challenge for Maresca lies less in managing one injury than in juggling the interconnected consequences of many. Chelsea’s rhythm, confidence and tactical identity have been shaped, interrupted and reassembled by absences that arrive just as form threatens to settle. Everton’s visit demands clarity in roles and assurance in selection, qualities Chelsea have seldom enjoyed this season.

Palmer’s return should help. Fofana may yet be available. Delap’s timeline is cautious but not catastrophic. Lavia and Essugo remain uncertain variables, while Colwill edges slowly forward. In a period defined by fragility, Chelsea must sculpt consistency from whatever stability they can muster. The latest injury updates, however cautiously optimistic in parts, underline the state of a squad still searching for balance.