Chelsea striker Liam Delap is expected to begin training again in November, with his anticipated return to play coming shortly after ahead of the busy festive fixture schedule.
No surgery is required on the hamstring injury Delap sustained against Fulham and his lay-off is estimated at approximately 10 weeks from the time of the injury.
Delap pulled up during the first half of Chelsea's 2-0 win over Fulham on August 30 and was replaced by Tyrique George. After the game, head coach Enzo Maresca said he feared Delap would be out for up to eight weeks.
The England Under-21 international's injury caused Chelsea to recall Marc Guiu from his proposed season-long loan at Sunderland.
That came after the club had informed Bayern Munich they would not be sanctioning the proposed loan of Nicolas Jackson to the German club, before a deal was ultimately struck on deadline day which includes a conditional obligation for the Bundesliga champions to make the move permanent.
Delap is set to miss the beginning of Chelsea's Champions League league phase campaign, which includes a trip to Bayern Munich on September 17, while Maresca's side also play Premier League champions Liverpool on October 4 and travel to Tottenham Hotspur on November 1.
Delap joined Chelsea for £30million from Ipswich Town at the start of summer. He featured in six games for his new side at the Club World Cup, scoring once, and had started two of Chelsea's opening three Premier League games.
As well as Delap, Chelsea also recruited Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the Club World Cup. The Brazilian has so far featured as a No 10, a No 9 and on the left under Maresca.
Chelsea return to action following the international break against Brentford on Saturday.