Chelsea suffer injury blow as summer signing ruled out for 12 matches

There’s good news and bad news for Chelsea’s Liam Delap.

The English striker, who was injured against Fulham last time out, doesn’t need surgery for his hamstring ailment, but is expected to be out for ten weeks.

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The summer signing lasted just 14 minutes in a 2-1 west London derby win and was initially given a six to eight weeks prognosis.

However, that date has now been moved back to November, meaning Delap will miss as many as 12 matches, given the Blues’ hectic autumn schedule.

The headline fixtures in that run are Bayern Munich away on September 17, Manchester United away on September 20, Liverpool at home on October 4 and Tottenham away on November 1.

Delap, son of the Stoke great Rory, was one of the first players through the door this summer, joining from Ipswich Town in a £30million deal.

His potential starting spot has since looked under huge threat from Joao Pedro, who later arrived from Brighton in a £60m deal and has scored five times and recorded two assists in six games.

Yet so concerned were Chelsea by Delap’s injury that they recalled Marc Guiu from loan and almost pulled out of loaning Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich.

Against Fulham Delap was starting his second match of the season, playing just ahead of Pedro in attack.

The 22-year-old striker is yet to score this campaign, but did find the net once in six appearances in the Club World Cup, a feat not deemed too impressive given the lesser competition.

Previous to that he scored 12 times in 40 games for Ipswich in his first full top flight campaign.

Chelsea’s injury problems mount

Chelsea have had more unhelpful injury news on the same day with Dario Essugo having to undergo surgery for a thigh problem picked up while playing for Portugal’s under-21s during the international break.

The club said in a statement: “Midfielder Dario Essugo has undergone successful surgery today on his thigh. 

“The 20-year-old sustained the injury whilst on international duty for Portugal’s Under-21s.

“Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action and Dario will now begin his recovery at Cobham, supported by the club’s medical department.”

Essugo suggested that he won’t be back any time soon, posting on social media that he’ll be out ‘for a while’.

Posting a hospital photo on social media, he wrote: “Unfortunately, during this international break with the National Team I felt something in my thigh that required surgery and will keep me out for a while.

“It’s frustrating to start the season like this, especially after already facing another setback not long ago. 

“But I truly believe everything happens for a reason. God has a bigger plan. I’ll be back stronger.”

The 20-year-old midfielder was signed from Sporting for a reported £18.5m, and made three appearances at the Club World Cup.

This season he’s been on the bench for all three of Chelsea’s opening matches, but hasn’t been substituted on by Enzo Maresca.