Fernandez, Palmer, Delap - Chelsea injury latest and return dates for Ajax clash

Chelsea have several players currently unavailable through injury; including Benoit Badiashile, Cole Palmer, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Levi Colwill and Liam Delap.

Enzo Maresca will, yet again, have several players out injured when Chelsea play Ajax in the Champions League.

The Italian head coach couldn't confirm whether or not Enzo Fernandez may return for their midweek match, after missing the weekend's win over Nottingham Forest. Maresca, however, did confirm at the City Ground that Wesley Fofana would be available to feature against the Dutch club.

Malo Gusto is also able to play as his one-match suspension after being sent off against Forest doesn't apply to UEFA competitions. That reduces their list of absentees for this match, and here football.london takes a look at Chelsea's current injury list;

Benoit Badiashile

Maresca confirmed on Friday that "Benoit will be out until December. The head coach explained: "He is injured again with a muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, showing how good he is, and we will wait for him."

Potential return date: December

Cole Palmer

Maresca also said on Friday about Palmer that "he needs to be out for probably six more weeks." The head coach confirmed: "This is the update.

"We try to protect Cole as much as we can, and the most important thing is that when he comes back, he's fully fit. We hope the six weeks will be enough, but it's a problem that we need to look at step by step, week by week, but for sure he is going to be okay."

Potential return date: Late December

Dario Essugo

The club released an update on Essugo - in early September - that confirmed he had undergone successful surgery on a thigh injury sustained the injury while on international duty with Portugal's Under-21s. Chelsea stated: "Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action and Dario will now begin his recovery at Cobham, supported by the club's medical department."

Potential return date: January

Enzo Fernandez

Maresca said on Saturday after the Forest match that Fernandez was absent with a "small problem." He added: "A small problem that at the moment we are not able to say if he can be available for Ajax or not."

Predicted return date: Ajax (H) on Wednesday, October 22

Levi Colwill

The club released a statement in early August confirming that Colwill had undergone successful surgery [for] an ACL injury. It read: "Medical assessments confirmed surgery would be the required course of action. Levi will now begin his recovery and be supported by the medical department at Cobham during his rehab phase."

Potential return date: End of the season

Liam Delap

Maresca said in mid-September that "Liam I think is around 10-12 weeks [out], so a long way to go." He hurt his hamstring in late August.

Potential return date: December