Chelsea are hopeful striker Liam Delap will be back in four weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury against Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old went off in the first-half of Saturday’s 0-0 draw holding his right shoulder. Assessments indicated he has suffered an injury to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint in his shoulder, but is not expected to require surgery.
The fixture at the Vitality Stadium marked just his eighth Premier League appearance this season after sustaining a hamstring injury against Fulham on August 30.
Maresca confirmed during Monday’s pre-Atalanta press conference that Delap had not suffered a fracture but did not say how long the forward will be out for.
Speaking after the Bournemouth match, the Chelsea head coach said: “Unfortunately, he was already out for two months and he has to be out again. It looked quite bad in the shoulder. He has been unlucky.”
Delap joined Chelsea on a six-year deal from Ipswich Town in June after a £30million ($40m) release clause in his contract became active following Kieran McKenna’s side relegation to the Championship.
The striker has been limited to 11 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring once after missing 10 games due to a hamstring injury and then serving a one-match suspension, having been booked twice in the space of seven minutes upon his return to action against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Maresca did receive an injury boost at the weekend, however, as Cole Palmer started a game for the first time since the loss to Manchester United on September 20 after a groin issue and toe fracture.
Chelsea travel to Italy to face Atalanta on Tuesday in the league phase of the Champions League.
Delap’s frustrating season
The news that Delap could return early next month is a best case scenario but still must be regarded as a disappointing setback for the player and the club.
Starting with the Champions League at Atalanta on Tuesday, the striker is going to miss a minimum of six games in all competitions. They face Manchester City on January 4 but there will still be question marks over how ready he can be for that match even if his shoulder has fully recovered.
Delap only returned from a hamstring injury which kept him out for two months in late October and has been working his way back to full match sharpness ever since.
The 22-year-old has scored just once this season — in the 3-0 win over Barcelona two weeks ago.
Chelsea would have hoped for more after buying him from Ipswich Town for £30million in June. He made a promising opening at the FIFA Club World Cup but has not been able to build on that.
Head coach Enzo Maresca does have other options to use up front but Joao Pedro is also carrying an injury issue and not found the net in his last five appearances.
Pedro Neto, academy graduate Tyrique George and former Barcelona youth product Marc Guiu are the other players he can pick to lead the line.
Only three teams have scored more than Chelsea’s 25 league goals this season but the 0-0 draw at Bournemouth was the first time they have failed to find the net since their opening fixture against Crystal Palace.