Chelsea head to Italy on Tuesday night searching for consistency and clarity. A 3–0 demolition of Barcelona had temporarily reignited belief, but Enzo Maresca’s side have since stalled with draws against Arsenal and Bournemouth, split by a frustrating defeat to Leeds. With Atalanta level on points with the Blues in the Champions League’s new 36-team league phase, the stakes could not be higher.
The weekend draw at Bournemouth brought one small boost — Cole Palmer completed nearly an hour in his first start since September — but it also delivered another unwelcome setback as Liam Delap was forced off injured. For a squad already stretched across multiple competitions, the growing injury list has become a central storyline of Maresca’s season.
Here is the full breakdown of Chelsea’s current injury situation and projected return dates.
Liam Delap: New shoulder injury brings fresh frustration
Chelsea suffered a blow at Bournemouth when Delap went straight down the tunnel after being replaced by Marc Guiu in the first half. The striker, who has already missed two months this season, now faces another spell on the sidelines.
Maresca admitted the initial assessment looked worrying: “We don’t know for how long, but it looks quite bad. His shoulder again. He has been unlucky — and we need that kind of No9.”
Delap’s absence leaves Chelsea light up front, especially with Maresca alternating between a false nine and rotating striker options depending on opponent demands.
Potential return date: Unknown
Romeo Lavia: Muscle problem creates more uncertainty
Romeo Lavia’s time at Chelsea has been dominated by injuries, and the pattern continues. The midfielder has made only 29 appearances since joining from Southampton in 2023 and suffered his latest setback during the Champions League trip to Qarabag on 5 November.
Maresca offered little clarity during Friday’s press briefing: “It’s a muscle problem. We don’t know yet when he can be back.”
Pressed further on how long Lavia would be sidelined, Maresca simply reiterated: “We don’t know.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Dario Essugo: Early return halted by minor setback
Essugo was originally expected to remain out until late 2025 or early 2026 after undergoing surgery for a thigh injury sustained with Portugal U21s in September. However, he returned to training sooner than expected, raising hopes he might cover for the suspended Moisés Caicedo.
Those plans were halted when Essugo suffered a small setback in training last week.
“For sure he’s not available for the next three games. It’s not serious, but we need to slow him down a little.”
Potential return date: Tuesday 16 December vs Cardiff (A)
Levi Colwill: Season-long ACL recovery continues
Colwill has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL shortly after returning for pre-season in August. The defender is progressing through his rehabilitation programme but remains months away from competing for a first-team place. Chelsea do not expect him back before the final stages of the 2025–26 season at the earliest.
Given the complexity of ACL recovery timelines, the club are prioritising long-term stability over accelerated return.
Potential return date: Summer 2026
Key Insights
- Chelsea face Atalanta with several key players unavailable.
- Delap suffered a new shoulder injury and has no return timeline.
- Lavia’s muscle issue remains undefined.
- Essugo has been told to “slow down” after a training setback.
- Colwill remains a long-term ACL absentee until summer 2026.
- Squad instability continues to interrupt Maresca’s tactical development.
What’s Next?
Chelsea travel to Bergamo knowing a result could reshape their Champions League positioning. Maresca will hope Palmer continues building sharpness and that no further injuries emerge in a squad already stretched thin.
👉 Chelsea fans — which injury absence is hurting Maresca’s system the most right now?
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