It was just a couple of days ago that Enzo Maresca was taking his press conference after the game against Ajax, but he’s back in the hot seat for the pre Sunderland edition today.
Interestingly, despite that short period, there is a significant update from the coach. He said on Wednesday that Liam Delap was close to a return, and today he confirmed that the striker had had his first training session with the team since suffering a hamstring injury in August.
Delap has already trained as striker continues injury return
Liam Delap lies injured.
Liam Delap lies injured. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“Yeah, we don’t have any new injuries [to report]. Liam took part in the session yesterday with the team for the first time, so he’s not going to be available for tomorrow game, but probably for the next match.”
That’s fantastic news – the initial reports thought Delap could be out for longer than that. Maresca was asked if his return was “ahead of schedule,” and confusingly answered that it wasn’t because the schedule can change:
“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.”
So while perhaps it was on the same schedule that the manager was given, the wider reports from journalists were saying it wasn’t going to be until November or December that we actually saw Delap back playing.
Maresca gives potential date for injury return
Maresca was then asked if we might see a few minutes of Delap in next week’s midweek EFL Cup game against Wolves, which could seem a perfect chance to reintroduce him if his body is up to it:
“Yeah, he can be available,” the manager confirmed.
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