Chelsea’s preparations for their upcoming Premier League match against Brentford have been hampered by a string of new injury concerns.
Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that midfielder Dario Essugo has undergone successful surgery on a thigh injury he sustained while on international duty with Portugal’s Under-21s.
The summer signing from Sporting faces an indefinite period on the sidelines.
Further bad news has emerged regarding striker Liam Delap, whose hamstring injury from the Fulham match is now feared to be more severe than the initial six-to-eight-week estimate. The new reports suggest Delap could be out for a longer, unspecified period.
In better news, there is hope that attacking midfielder Cole Palmer, who has been recovering from a groin injury, may be fit for the weekend, although his status is still being assessed “day by day.”
New signing Alejandro Garnacho is also expected to be available for his Chelsea debut, likely coming off the bench as he works to regain match fitness.
