Chelsea Discover When Star Striker Liam Delap Will Make His Comeback
Chelsea forward Liam Delap is unlikely to require surgical intervention for a hamstring problem sustained prior to the recent international fixtures, according to emerging reports.
Manager Enzo Maresca had initially projected an approximate eight-week absence for Delap following his withdrawal during the Fulham encounter—an setback that triggered frantic activity in Chelsea's transfer dealings during the window's final stages.
Nicolas Jackson's temporary switch to Bayern Munich faced initial cancellation, while promising forward Marc Guiu was promptly brought back from his Sunderland loan spell as Chelsea hierarchy worried Delap's recovery might surpass Maresca's timeline predictions. Jackson eventually secured his Bayern move after the German giants enhanced their proposal with an unprecedented loan fee and conditional purchase clause that executive Uli Hoeneß recently declared would "never" be activated.
Chelsea opted against acquiring an additional striker, clearly considering the progression of Strasbourg's Emmanuel Emegha, who has been identified as a potential Stamford Bridge contributor possibly from next campaign onwards.
Guiu will provide backup for João Pedro throughout Delap's rehabilitation period which, per The Athletic, should not extend beyond 10 weeks.
Additional medical examinations have verified that the ex-Ipswich Town attacker requires no surgical procedure and should resume training activities in November, just ahead of Chelsea's demanding holiday fixture list.
A 10-week timeline from the original injury occurrence places Delap's return in mid-November, a period interrupted by another international window. The Burnley fixture on Nov. 22, preceding a Champions League clash with Barcelona by three days, represents a realistic comeback target.
This recovery schedule would result in Delap missing an additional 13 Chelsea matches, encompassing encounters with Bayern Munich and Manchester United this month, plus the Liverpool away fixture in early October.
Although Delap's injury update brings encouraging news, the situation differs for midfielder Dário Essugo, who was forced to pull out of Portugal's U21 international duty due to what initially seemed a minor complaint.
Chelsea have now announced that the young midfielder has received surgical treatment for a thigh problem. His expected return timeline remains undisclosed.