Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says that Liam Delap is “very close” to making a return to team training from injury, while he also provided an update on Enzo Fernandez. Â
The striker has been out of action since injuring his hamstring during the 2-0 win over Fulham at Stamford Bridge in August.
Delap has only featured in three Premier League games since joining the Blues from Ipswich Town this past summer in a deal worth £30 million.
Chelsea star Liam Delap ‘very close’ to returning from injury
Speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s meeting with Ajax in the UEFA Champions League, Maresca provided an injury update on Delap in his pre-match press conference.
“Liam is very close,” he said. “He is not working with us yet. He is still out. Hopefully he can start in the next days to start taking sessions with us.”
With Joao Pedro suspended for the visit of Ajax, Maresca is short on options at centre-forward. The Italian is likely to start Marc Guiu up top, although he suggested that Tyrique George could play as a no.9 if needed.
“We have him [Guiu] we have also Tyrique,” he said. “He played games as a nine in the past. He did well. He played I think against Benfica as a nine so we have different options. We will see. We have one more session this afternoon and then we decide.”
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Guiu was recalled from his short-lived loan spell at Sunderland following Delap’s injury and Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich. He is yet to make a start for Chelsea this season, coming off the bench twice in the Premier League, nor has he found the net. All six of his goals for the club came in last season’s successful UEFA Conference League campaign.
“We trust Marc,” Maresca added. “We trust him last year, he was playing in the Conference League. We gave him some Premier League games. We show in the past that we trust Marc. Now he is again with us and he’s going to play games, for sure.”
Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez could return to the matchday squad after sitting out Saturday’s win over Nottingham Forest. The Argentine midfielder returned from international duty with a knee issue
“Enzo took part in the session yesterday, we have one more session and we will see what we do tomorrow. It’s not something to be worried about but we just have to protect Enzo.”
Chelsea host Sunderland in the league this Saturday with kickoff set for 3pm.
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