Chelsea suffer major injury setback with Liam Delap

Chelsea striker Liam Delap is expected to be sidelined until November after suffering a hamstring injury during the win over Fulham, according to reports from The Athletic.

The England Under-21 forward pulled up in the early stages of the 2-0 victory, clutching his right hamstring after chasing a long ball forward.

His absence is a blow to Enzo Maresca, who will now need to rely on other attacking options while Delap recovers over the next two months.

Initial assessments revealed that no surgery is required. The recovery period is estimated at around ten weeks, with a possible return shortly after November.

Delap is expected to resume training in November, with his comeback timed for the demanding festive run of fixtures in both domestic and European competitions.

The injury has already forced Chelsea into a rethink, with the club recalling Marc Guiu from his planned season-long loan at Sunderland .

Delap’s absence means he will miss the start of Chelsea’s Champions League league phase, which includes a difficult trip to Bayern Munich on 17 September.

He is also set to sit out key Premier League clashes against Liverpool on 4 October and Tottenham Hotspur on 1 November.

Maresca, who values squad depth, will now need to rotate carefully to cover Delap’s absence during a challenging run of games.

Delap joined Chelsea in a £30 million transfer from Ipswich Town earlier this summer and had quickly become part of Maresca’s plans.

He impressed in the Club World Cup, making six appearances and scoring once, before starting two of Chelsea’s opening three Premier League fixtures.

The striker was keen to build on his early form, but the injury setback will delay his progress at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea supporters will hope he can return fit and sharp in time for the busy winter schedule, where the club faces a packed calendar across all competitions.

For now, Maresca must rely on other forwards to deliver, as Delap focuses on a full recovery and a successful return later this year.