🚨Major blow for Chelsea as star attacker ruled out for two months
Chelsea star set to be out for six to eight weeks...
Chelsea have been dealt a significant injury blow heading into the busy festive period with confirmation that star striker is set to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
The player in question is Liam Delap who sustained a serious shoulder injury during Saturday’s goalless draw against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, compounding head coach Enzo Maresca’s selection headaches in attack.
Liam Delap out for six to eight weeks
The incident occurred in the first half of the clash on the South Coast, where Delap landed awkwardly following a tangle with Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi. Visibly in pain, the striker was immediately substituted for Marc Guiu, sparking fears of a dislocation.
Speaking to the press, a frustrated Enzo Maresca lamented the striker’s misfortune. “It looks quite bad,” Maresca admitted. “He has been unlucky. Unfortunately, he has already been out for two months this season with a hamstring issue, and now he has to be out again. We don’t know exactly for how long, but we are looking at a minimum of six weeks. It is a big loss because we need his profile in the number nine position.”
Medical assessments over the last 48 hours have confirmed those fears. According to Alex Crook of talkSPORT, the player is set to be out for six to eight weeks, with his return expected in late January or early February 2026.
Games Liam Delap is expected to miss
The timing could not be worse for the Blues. With the congested December and January fixture list looming, Delap is set to miss a crucial run of games across three competitions.
His absence leaves Chelsea light on options up front as they look to fight Arsenal in the Premier League and progress in Europe.
Based on the six-to-eight-week timeline, Delap is expected to miss the following key fixtures:
UEFA Champions League: vs. Atalanta (Dec 9)
Premier League: vs. Everton (Dec 13)
Carabao Cup (Quarter-Final): vs. Cardiff City (Dec 16)
Premier League: vs. Newcastle United (Dec 20)
Premier League: vs. Aston Villa (Dec 27)
Premier League: vs. Bournemouth (Dec 30)
Premier League: vs. Manchester City (Jan 4)
Premier League: vs. Fulham (Jan 7)
Premier League: vs. Brentford (Jan 17)
If his recovery extends to the full eight weeks, he could also be a doubt for the Champions League clash against Pafos FC on January 21 and the London derby against Crystal Palace shortly after.
Liam Delap’s time at Chelsea so far
Since his £30 million move from Ipswich Town in June 2025, Delap’s career at Stamford Bridge has been stop-start.
Arriving with high expectations after a breakout season with the Tractor Boys where he netted 12 Premier League goals, he was viewed as the physical focal point Maresca’s system required.
However, momentum has been hard to come by. Delap’s start to life in West London was interrupted almost immediately by a hamstring injury in late August, which kept him out for nearly two months.
Since returning in late October, he has shown flashes of his quality, most notably scoring in the Champions League victory over Barcelona, but has struggled for rhythm, netting just once in his limited appearances.
This latest setback is a cruel twist for a young striker desperate to prove himself at an elite level. Chelsea fans will be hoping that his rehabilitation is swift, as the team’s depth will be tested to its limits this winter.