Chelsea injury update: Estevao, Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Blues fitness woes are easing as the festive period approaches

Chelsea continue to monitor Estevao’s fitness as they navigate a busy festive schedule in the Premier League.

The Brazilian has now missed two games - a win at Cardiff and comeback draw at Newcastle - with a muscle issue, and Enzo Maresca hopes to have the teenager again available.

Otherwise it is a case of as you were in the Blues treatment room, with Liam Delap joining longer-term absentees Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill.

With that in mind, here is the latest Chelsea injury news and return dates…

Estevao

Estevao has been sidelined with a "small muscle problem", according to manager Enzo Maresca.

The teenage star missed Tuesday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Cardiff, and his manager has confirmed he will also sit out the weekend trip to face Newcastle in the Premier League.

Standard Sport understands that Estevao faces a race to be fit for Chelsea’s first match after Christmas, when they host Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on December 27.

Maresca said after the game at Cardiff: "He had a small problem. It was a muscle problem.

"He won’t be available for Newcastle and we will see for the next one."

Potential return date: Aston Villa (h) on December 27, 2025

Liam Delap

The striker is set for another extended spell on the sidelines this season, after suffering a shoulder injury against Bournemouth earlier in December.

Delap had to be substituted 31 minutes into the 0-0 draw after Cherries defender Marcos Senesi landed awkwardly on him.

Chelsea are hopeful that Delap will have recovered inside four weeks, with the injury not as bad as first feared.

Asked for an updated return timeline on Friday, Maresca said: "We don't know yet [how long he will be out for].

“It can be still two, three, four weeks. We don't know exactly how many days he needs."

Potential return date: Early January 2026

Dario Essugo

Dario Essugo is not expected to return before the end of the year.

The summer signing’s start was hampered by a thigh problem suffered in September, and then a return to training in November was cut short in which was thought to be a setback.

But Maresca has last week confirmed that Essugo has picked up a separate issue.

Asked for an updated timeline for his return, Maresca said: “I don’t know. I don’t have information. I know that he’s better.

Potential return date: January 2026

Romeo Lavia

Romeo Lavia ‘s injury woes continue for Chelsea, with his latest setback coming against Qarabag in the Champions League on November 5.

Enzo Maresca has recently delivered a rather concerning update regarding the midfielder.

“It's a muscle problem,” Maresca said earlier in December. “We don't know yet when he can be back.”

Pushed on whether Lavia is expected to be a short-term or long-term absentee, Maresca replied: “We don't know.”

Injury issues have restricted Lavia to just 29 appearances since his £53million move from Southampton in the summer of 2023.

His latest setback came in the

Potential return date: Unknown

Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill will miss most of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

A devastating injury in a World Cup year, the defender suffered the blow shortly after Chelsea returned for pre-season training at Cobham in August, days after winning the Club World Cup.

Colwill underwent surgery soon after and is expected to be sidelined for much of the campaign.

Potential return date: Spring/summer 2026