Chelsea’s Liam Delap set for November return | OneFootball

Chelsea have been handed a boost with confirmation that Liam Delap (22) will not require surgery on the hamstring injury sustained in last month’s victory over Fulham. The striker was forced off midway through the first half of the 2-0 win at Craven Cottage on August 30, sparking fears of a lengthy absence.

Initial concerns suggested Delap, who signed for the club for £30m over the summer, could be sidelined for much of the season, but The Athletic reports that the striker is expected to return in around ten weeks, clearing the way for a return to training in November and a potential competitive comeback ahead of Chelsea’s congested festive calendar.

The injury enforced a hectic transfer deadline day for Chelsea, with Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich being called off at the last minute before the club ultimately sanctioned the move, opting instead to recall teenager Marc Guiu from his Sunderland loan as cover.

Pedro steps up in attack

In Delap’s absence, João Pedro (23) has been tasked with leading the line. The Brazilian forward, a £60m summer signing from Brighton, has quickly impressed, scoring twice and assisting twice in his first three league games. However, Delap’s enforced spell on the sidelines will still see him miss up to 13 matches, including the side’s trip to Bayern Munich for their Champions League opener on September 17, a game against Manchester United three days later, and a meeting with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in early October.

Injury setback for Essugo

Despite the more promising news of Delap’s return, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that another of Chelsea’s summer signings, Dário Essugo (20), has had to undergo surgery on a thigh injury he suffered while away with the Portugal Under-21s. The midfielder who joined from Sporting this summer for £18.5m will now be sidelined for an unspecified period of time.

GFN | Finn Entwistle