Liam Delap closing in on Chelsea return, says head coach Enzo Maresca

Liam Delap could make his Chelsea return in next week’s Carabao Cup meeting with Wolves, head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed.

The striker had been expected to be out until December with the hamstring injury he sustained during the win over Fulham in August, but that schedule has been dramatically revised.

There had been a hope amongst the club’s medical staff that the £30million summer signing from Ipswich could feature in Saturday’s game against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, but the trip to Molineux is now thought to be more realistic.

“Liam took part yesterday with the team for the first time,” said Maresca. “He’s not going to be available for tomorrow’s game but probably for the next one.

“The schedule can change, it depends how they improve or get worse. First time they said he could be available for October 25. (Next week) he can be available.”

Maresca has cycled amongst options at number nine in Delap’s absence with fellow new recruit Joao Pedro one player used in the role, while academy graduate Tyrique George has also been deployed.

Teenage striker Marc Guiu was recalled from Sunderland in the days following Delap’s injury and he scored his first goal of the season in Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League win over Ajax, though Maresca said he is only now getting what he expects from the 19-year-old.

“I had a chat with Marc two weeks ago, I told him that the way he was training I didn’t like and he needs to change,” he said. “He changed and he got a chance (against Ajax). Easy like that.

“He was not training well. In all ways. I don’t know (why). Young players, sometimes you need to go slowly, slowly with them. Since we chatted, he’s top, he’s fantastic, he’s working very good.

“Absolutely he’s ready to start.”

Guiu was recalled from Wearside on a dramatic transfer deadline day for the Blues after their attempt to call off Nicolas Jackson’s move to Bayern Munich publicly backfired.

Delap’s injury two days earlier had briefly left Pedro as Maresca’s only available senior striker, though the manager believes that the Brazilian is at his most effective playing deeper with a more advanced strike partner, which looks likely to be Guiu on Saturday.

“Marc is a typical number nine, he’s physically strong, he’s a box player,” said Maresca. “He can improve and do many things better. He’s going to play games with us.

“Joao can play as a nine or 10. Probably when he has another nine next to him he plays better.”

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has led his side to seventh after eight matches, level on points with Chelsea.

Like Maresca last season, he has had to acclimatise on his debut Premier League campaign after stepping up from a year in the Championship.

“I spent a season with Leicester, I love the Championship,” said Maresca. “Even if we play Premier League (then) Champions League, I always watch the Championship, so I watched Sunderland since last season.

“They play good football and they’re physically strong.”