After joining early in the summer from Ipswich Town and helping Chelsea win the Club World Cup, Delap featured in our opening three games of the 2025/26 campaign.

Unfortunately, in the third of those at home to Fulham, the 22-year-old suffered a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for almost two months. A red card on his return, away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, further delayed his road to full fitness.

Delap, as with any player returning from injury, has been carefully managed by Maresca following his lay-off. He has featured in our last six matches in all competitions, but his midweek start against Leeds was only his third since returning to action.

The Blues' No.9 wasn't able to add to his goal against Barcelona in the Champions League, but he did have sights of the Leeds goal at Elland Road. And that, coupled with having worked with Delap at Manchester City, is why Maresca has no doubts about the striker's quality.

‘It was a long time for him to be out,' said the Chelsea head coach ahead of our Premier League clash with Bournemouth. 'I think he is getting better and the other day against Leeds, he had two or three chances where he could have done better.

'I know Liam from many years ago at Manchester City and I don’t have any doubts that he will score goals and be important for us.’

Wednesday night's defeat to Leeds was our first on the road in the Premier League since mid-September – and on that occasion, against Manchester United, an early red card changed the complexion of the contest.

Maresca wasn't happy with his side's performance at Elland Road, but appreciates that more can often be learned from a disappointing defeat than a positive result against the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal.

He explained: ‘We need to be aware of where we go [when away from home]. In terms of the intensity, the environment, whether it is a small pitch. We need to be ready for all these things.

'I learned more from the Leeds game than against Arsenal or Barcelona because we did a few things wrong that we need to avoid in the future. Hopefully, we can start showing that tomorrow [against Bournemouth].'