Liam Delap is expected to be sidelined for 10 weeks as a result of the hamstring injury the Chelsea star suffered against Fulham.
Delap, 22, was forced off in the first-half of the west London derby before September’s international break after pulling up while chasing a through ball.
The England Under-21 international was taken to hospital with Enzo Maresca initially revealing he was looking at a period of six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
While he will not require surgery, Delap’s injury is worse than first feared however with The Athletic reporting he is expected to be sidelined for 10 weeks.
That timeline rules the striker out of 12 games across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
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Among those are key domestic fixtures against Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham and European clashes with Bayern Munich, Benfica and Ajax.
A possible return could be considered against Wolves on 8 November although the trip to Burnley after the final international break of the year could be more likely.
Delap’s injury prompted a frantic final few days of the summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea attempting to halt Nicolas Jackson’s proposed loan move to Bayern Munich.
The games Liam Delap is set to miss for Chelsea
Brentford vs Chelsea (13 September, Premier League)
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea (17 September, Champions League)
Manchester United vs Chelsea (20 September, Premier League)
Lincoln City vs Chelsea (23 September, Carabao Cup)
Chelsea vs Brighton (27 September, Premier League)
Chelsea vs Benfica (30 September, Champions League)
Chelsea vs Liverpool (4 October, Premier League)
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea (18 October, Premier League)
Chelsea vs Ajax (22 October, Champions League)
Chelsea vs Sunderland (25 October, Premier League)
Tottenham vs Chelsea (1 November, Premier League)
Qarabag vs Chelsea (5 November, Champions League)
His loan switch was eventually confirmed with Chelsea instead recalling Marc Guiu from Sunderland less than a month after joining the Black Cats until the end of the season.
Delap started Chelsea’s last two matches in the no9 role with Joao Pedro dropped deeper in games against West Ham United and Fulham.
The Brazil international, who has two goals and two assists in three Premier League matches, will be expected to return to the focal point of attack in Delap’s absence.
Chelsea return to action away to Brentford on Saturday evening.
Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile returned to training this week but there was still no sign of Cole Palmer.
The former Manchester City star has missed his side’s last two games after withdrawing from the starting XI against West Ham shortly before kick-off, also left out of the England squad.
Palmer has been dealing with a groin issue.
