Key Takeaways:
- Liam Delap has been sidelined since late August due to a hamstring injury but could return for Chelsea’s Carabao Cup fixture against Wolves on Wednesday
- Marc Guiu appears set for a starting role against Sunderland after netting against Ajax
- Sunderland are enjoying an impressive Premier League campaign, occupying seventh place with four wins, two draws, and two defeats
Squad Update: Delap’s Recovery Progress and Forward Options
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has provided a positive update regarding Liam Delap’s rehabilitation. After sustaining a hamstring injury in the victory over Fulham at the end of August, Delap had been on the sidelines for several weeks following his summer move from Ipswich Town. Maresca confirmed on Friday that Delap joined the team’s training session in part for the first time this week. Although he will not feature in Chelsea’s upcoming league clash with Sunderland, Maresca signalled that Delap’s return could coincide with the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Wolves on Wednesday.
🚨 Enzo Maresca on Liam Delap return:
"We don't have any new injuries. Liam took part of the session yesterday with the team for the first time. He is not going to be available for tomorrow but probably for the next one."
(@BobbyVincentFL) #CFC pic.twitter.com/VHBH0ZBG9O
— Chelsea Dodgers (@TheBlueDodger) October 24, 2025
When pressed about Delap’s recovery relative to initial predictions, Maresca remarked that timelines are fluid depending on a player’s progress: “Well, the schedule also can change a little bit, it depends how they improve or get worse. The first time they said to me that he could be available for the 25th of October, so today is 24th, 25th.” He later confirmed that Delap could indeed be available next week for the League Cup.
Guiu’s Sudden Recall and Potential Starting Spot
With Nicolas Jackson’s departure to Bayern Munich and Delap’s injury having left Chelsea short in attack, the club opted to recall Marc Guiu from his loan spell at the Stadium of Light after just 26 days. Guiu, formerly of Barcelona, made an immediate impact by scoring against Ajax in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture, which increases the likelihood that he will be handed a start against Sunderland on Saturday.
Maresca described Guiu’s attributes, stating: “Marc is a typical No 9, you will see physically strong, he is a box player, again he is [born in] 06, he can improve and he can do many things better and we are working with him every day to help him and as I said many times, he is going to play games with us.”
Maresca also commented on the versatility of Joao Pedro, mentioning, “Then in terms of Joao [Pedro], we know that he can play as a No 9 or he can play as a No 10. In both positions I think Joao is very good but probably when he has another No 9 next to him, he is playing better.”
Premier League Form: Sunderland’s Strong Start
Sunderland have enjoyed an excellent start to the Premier League campaign, currently sitting seventh in the table after recording four wins, two draws, and two losses. They are level on points with Chelsea ahead of their weekend encounter.
| Club | Wins | Draws | Losses | Current League Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7th |
Praising Sunderland’s efforts this season, Maresca noted: “I think they show since the season starts that they are a very good team, they play together, they work together, they play as a team. Also in terms of results, they have the same points as us so they are showing how good they are doing since they started and the game, it’s a Premier League game, I don’t think there is any game that can be easy, they are all difficult games.”
