Chelsea injury update: Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Benoit Badiashile latest news and return dates | OneFootball

In-form Blues still dealing with some key fitness issues ahead of massive games in November

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Chelsea are back in Premier League action when they host Sunderland on Saturday.

Confidence will be high after Chelsea thrashed Ajax 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, though they are still dealing with a number of fitness issues with some big games looming on the horizon.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Chelsea injury news after Enzo Fernandez made a welcome return from a knee issue against Ajax.

Malo Gusto is suspended for the visit of Sunderland after his late sending off at Forest continued the club’s poor disciplinary record, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable for selection.

Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer has been hampered by a persistent groin injury all season and has not played since being taken off early in the defeat at Manchester United last month.

Palmer was rested ahead of the October international break but Maresca had said that he could return quickly afterwards, only for it to then emerge that he was likely out until November.

Maresca said before last weekend’s win over Forest that Palmer would be unavailable for another six weeks, meaning he is unlikely to play again until December.

“I was wrong. Unfortunately he needs to be out probably six more weeks,” Maresca said.

Setback: Enzo Maresca confirmed that Palmer will be out of action for another six weeks

Nick Potts/PA Wire

“Yes, absolutely [he still doesn’t need surgery]. We try just to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that.

“Unfortunately the medical staff, they are not magicians, they never know that you probably need six weeks. We hope that six weeks, they are enough, but it's a problem that we need to see step by step, week after week, but for sure he's going to be okay.

“He looks very good, to be honest, he looks relaxed. He's trying to recover from the injury, he's doing all the therapy that he needs to do, so he looks good.”

Potential return date: Early December

Benoit Badiashile

Benoit Badiashile has made just three appearances for Chelsea this season due to injury and was forced off early in the second half of the last-gasp win over Liverpool.

Despite initial optimism, Badiashile suffered what has been described only as a muscular problem and will now not be involved again until December.

“Benoit will be out until December, injury again,” Maresca said before the trip to the City Ground last weekend.

“A muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, he showed all of this, he showed how he needed, and we're going to wait for him.”

Potential return date: December

Liam Delap

Liam Delap, one of Chelsea’s high-profile summer recruits in attack, impressed at the Club World Cup but managed just three appearances of his own this season before suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-0 home win over west London rivals Fulham in late August.

He was not expected back until November or December after being ruled out for 10 to 12 weeks, though Maresca revealed before the win over Ajax that the striker was already “very close” to resuming training.

“Liam is very close,” Maresca said. “He is not working with us yet, he is still out but hopefully he can start in the next days to take part in the session with us.”

Potential return date: November

Recovery: Delap is set to resume training with Chelsea at Cobham soon

Adam Davy/PA Wire

Dario Essugo

Dario Essugo has yet to play a senior match for Chelsea following his summer arrival from Sporting, suffering a thigh injury during a training session with the Portugal Under-21s in early September.

He underwent surgery and the BBC recently reported that the 20-year-old could be out until the New Year.

Potential return date: January 2026

Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury shortly after Chelsea’s return to pre-season training in early August and subsequently underwent surgery.

He is expected to miss most of the season, though will be working hard to play some part after recently returning to the gym.

Potential return date: Late in the season/summer 2026