Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that striker Liam Delap will be sidelined for up to three months after sustaining a hamstring injury during the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Fulham on August 30. The 21-year-old forward, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town in June for £30 million, had featured in all three of the club’s Premier League fixtures before the setback. Maresca disclosed on Friday that Delap is unlikely to return before December, describing the situation as a major blow to his squad’s attacking options.
With Delap unavailable, Chelsea recalled young striker Marc Guiu from his loan spell at Sunderland to strengthen the frontline. The move became necessary after Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson departed Stamford Bridge for Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day. Maresca also has Joao Pedro, a summer signing from Brighton, as an alternative, while academy product Tyrique George could be deployed as a makeshift striker if needed. “We have the injury for sure now in this moment as a number nine. The only one is Guiu. And Joao also can play there. Against Fulham, we used Tyrique as a nine. So we can also think about him,” Maresca explained.
Chelsea may receive a timely boost with England international Cole Palmer close to returning from a groin injury that kept him out of the wins against West Ham and Fulham. However, the availability of Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, and Andrey Santos remains uncertain after their late return from international duty with Brazil, who played at high altitude against Bolivia. Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo also returned late from his national team engagement, raising further doubts about player readiness ahead of Saturday’s west London derby against Brentford.
The Italian coach also provided an update on Alejandro Garnacho, who joined Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer. Maresca said the Argentine winger is “working well” but is still not at peak fitness. Despite the injury concerns, Chelsea remain in strong form, sitting second in the Premier League after three matches this season, having also lifted the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in Maresca’s debut campaign.
Meanwhile, Chelsea face off-field distractions after the Football Association charged the club with 74 alleged breaches of agent payment regulations between 2009 and 2022, primarily during Roman Abramovich’s ownership. Maresca declined to comment in detail, insisting his focus remains on football matters. “I know the club are satisfied about the situation, about the process. Personally, I don’t have anything to add because I don’t have any idea. I just focus on the pitch side, which I can control,” he said, adding that the issue is not weighing heavily on the players.
