Chelsea Striker Injury Prognosis – Out Until December | OneFootball

Chelsea Striker Delap Facing Lengthy Lay-Off Until December

Delap Sidelined After Hamstring Injury

Chelsea’s plans for the first half of the season have been disrupted by the news that Liam Delap could be out until December following a hamstring injury against Fulham. The striker was forced off after just 14 minutes in the 2-0 win and Enzo Maresca confirmed he will be missing for “10 to 12 weeks.”

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The Blues are optimistic the 22-year-old may return in November, which would be a welcome boost ahead of a packed festive calendar. Importantly, Delap has avoided surgery, but the recovery timeline is significant given Chelsea’s reliance on depth in attack.

Chelsea’s Response to Delap Absence

In response, Chelsea acted quickly by recalling Marc Guiu from his loan spell at Sunderland. This came a day before Nicolas Jackson’s £70.5m move to Bayern Munich was finalised. Joao Pedro, who arrived from Brighton earlier in the summer, is expected to be Maresca’s first-choice forward.

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“For us, the only number nine is [Marc] Guiu and Joao [Pedro] can play there, and against Fulham we used Ty [George],” Maresca explained, suggesting a flexible approach to cover Delap’s absence.

Importance of Delap’s Return

Delap’s absence is a blow considering his impact last season, when he scored 12 goals in the Premier League for Ipswich. He joined Chelsea for £30m in June and had featured in all three matches this season before the setback.

Palmer Nearing Comeback

There is some positive news for Chelsea fans as Cole Palmer edges closer to a return. “Cole took part in the session yesterday for the first time, not the entire session,” Maresca said. The 23-year-old, who delivered 18 goals and 13 assists last season, could feature when Chelsea visit Brentford.

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Delap’s recovery will be closely monitored as his availability could shape Chelsea’s attack heading into December’s crucial fixtures.