Injury rules out Chelsea's Delap until December

Chelsea striker Liam Delap could beryllium sidelined until December aft sustaining a hamstring wounded against Fulham earlier nan world break.

Delap was replaced conscionable 14 minutes into nan 2-0 triumph complete nan Cottagers and head Enzo Maresca said he will beryllium unavailable for 10 to 12 weeks.

The Blues are hopeful nan 22-year-old could return successful November, offering a boost for nan engaged festive period, aft avoiding nan request for surgery.

Delap joined nan Blues from Ipswich for £30m successful June and has featured successful each 3 games this season.

Chelsea recalled striker Marc Guiu from a indebtedness spell astatine Sunderland nan time aft Delap picked up nan wounded to supply screen amid uncertainty complete Nicolas Jackson, who joined Bayern Munich for £70.5m nan pursuing day.

Joao Pedro besides joined nan westbound London nine from Brighton earlier successful nan summertime and is apt to beryllium Maresca's preferred action to lead nan line.

"For us, nan only number 9 is [Marc] Guiu and Joao [Pedro] tin play there, and against Fulham we utilized Ty [George]," Maresca said.

Delap was Ipswich's starring scorer past play - registering 12 times successful nan Premier League - and played 37 times.

Meanwhile, guardant Cole Palmer is pushing for a return erstwhile Chelsea recreation to Brentford connected Saturday (20:00 BST).

The England guardant missed victories complete West Ham and Fulham pinch a groin injury.

"Cole took portion successful nan convention yesterday for nan first time, not nan full session," Maresca said.

"We person 1 much convention this day and we are going to effort pinch him to spot if he's OK, different he will beryllium retired tomorrow.

"He is recovering from an injury. When he is available, we request to negociate him because of nan magnitude of games."

Palmer, 23, was a awesome plus for Chelsea successful nan last 3rd of past play - scoring 18 goals and laying connected 13 assists crossed each competitions.

Chelsea person made a affirmative commencement to nan 2025-26 campaign, picking up 7 points from their opening 3 games, but location was disappointing news disconnected nan section connected Thursday.

The Football Association charged Chelsea pinch 74 alleged norm breaches related to payments to agents betwixt 2009 and 2022.

The alleged rules breaches, which pre-date Maresca's presence astatine nan club, interest agents, intermediaries and third-party investments successful players.

"I cognize from nan nine that they are satisfied astir nan process," Maresca said erstwhile asked astir nan charges.

"Personally, I person thing to add. I person nary idea, to beryllium honest. I want to attraction connected nan pitch, thing I tin control.

"The remainder is not successful my hands."

There are a wide scope of options disposable to punishment Chelsea, including a fine, transportation embargo and points deduction. However, nan Blues' precocious level of co-operation will beryllium factored successful and nan nine don't expect to beryllium deed pinch a sporting sanction.