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

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Chelsea are still dealing with a number of injury absences as they prepare to host Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Despite so many absentees, Enzo Maresca’s side have now won four of their last five matches across all competitions, briefly vaulting into the top four at the weekend having recently got back to winning ways in the Champions League and progressed into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, where Wolves await next week.

With that in mind, here is all the latest Chelsea injury news and return dates, with Pedro Neto and Josh Acheampong both starting at Forest and Moises Caicedo coming off the bench. Tosin Adarabioyo and Andrey Santos returned, and Reece James and Joao Pedro were declared fit to start.

Trevoh Chalobah came back from suspension, but Wesley Fofana was omitted despite recovering from a concussion. Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable for Chelsea.

Enzo Fernandez

Enzo Fernandez was a doubt for the trip to Forest after returning home early from Argentina duty due to inflammation in his right knee.

He did not make the squad at the City Ground and Maresca confirmed ahead of the game that he was injured, but insisted it was not a “big concern”.

The Chelsea head coach then said afterwards that he was unsure if Fernandez would be fit to play a part when Dutch giants Ajax head to west London in midweek.

“Enzo had small problem,” Maresca said. “A small problem that at the moment we are not able to say if he can be available for Ajax or not.”

Potential return date: Unknown, possibly Wednesday October 22, vs Ajax (H) or Saturday October 25, vs Sunderland (H)

Cole Palmer

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

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

The Chelsea boss said before the win over Forest that Palmer would be unavailable for another six weeks, meaning he likely won’t 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: December - possibly Wednesday December 3, vs Leeds (A)

Benoit Badiashile

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

Despite initial optimism, he 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.

“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 controversial 2-0 home win over west London rivals Fulham in late August.

He is also not expected to be back in action until December.

“Liam I think is around 10-12 weeks [out], so a long way to go,” Maresca said in the middle of September.

Potential return date: Early December

Recovery: Delap is another player unlikely to return to action for Chelsea before December

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

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: Spring/summer 2026