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

The Blues manager has revealed a number of ongoing issues

Chelsea are juggling several fitness issues, it has emerged, as Sunderland ended their winning run.

Liam Delap could make his return from injury this week, having returned to training, but Cole Palmer remains so weeks away.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Chelsea injury news...

Joao Pedro

Joao Pedro played 85 minutes against Sunderland and was taken off without any signs of a knock, but after the game Enzo Maresca confirmed the forward has been carrying a knock which has prevented him from taking part in every training session.

Maresca also name-checked midfield pair Enzo Fernandez - recently back from injury - and Moises Caicedo.

“Joao has not been training every day because he is managing a little bit, himself, from an injury. Mo is the same, Enzo is exactly the same,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference.

“We have four or five players that, unfortunately, because of some problems, they cannot work every day and they try to make the effort to play the game.

“So, Joao, in some games, has been better. Today he struggled a little bit, but today, I think, overall, all the players struggled today. So, it’s not just about Joao.”

Still missing: Cole Palmer

AFP via Getty Images

Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer remains a number of weeks away from a return, having already missed a month with a persistent and troublesome groin injury.

Maresca initially said Palmer would be able to return soon after the recent international break, but that date was pushed back by 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.

“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.

“Unfortunatel,y 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

Liam Delap

Liam Delap is expected to make his return from injury this week, having been sidelined for two months with a hamstring issue.

Initial reports suggested that Delap would be sidelined until November, or possibly December, but Enzo Maresca insists the striker is not back ahead of schedule.

“Liam took part in the session yesterday with the team for the first time, so he's not going to be available [to face Fulham], but probably for the next match,” Maresca said on Friday.

“The first time [the medical team[ said to me that he could be available for the 25th of October, so today is the 24th ... he can be available [to face Wolves].

Potential return date: Wolves (a) on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

Recovery: Liam Delap is back in contention

Adam Davy/PA Wire

Benoit Badiashile

Benoit Badiashile, part of the bomb squad in the summer, has been reintroduced back into the first-team fold this season and made three appearances before picking up a new muscle injury.

“Benoit will be out until December, injury again,” Maresca said earlier in October.

“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

Dario Essugo

Dario Essugo has been sidelined since suffering a thigh injury in September while with Portugal Under-21s

Surgery followed soon after and, while no official rehabilitation timescale has been given, reports have suggested a January return is most likely.

Potential return date: January 2026

Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill is expected to miss most of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, picked up during pre-season training in early August.

It was a huge blow for player and club, and has effectively ruled the young defender out of England’s World Cup squd next summer.