Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca backs Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap to become senior England international

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has backed Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap to become ‘an important player for England’.

The 21-year-old has been one of the Tractor Boys’ key players during what is his first ever season in the Premier League, with his six goals to date making him the club’s top scorer.

And Delap is a forward that Maresca knows well with the pair having previously worked together when the Italian was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City – the team that Delap left during the summer to join Town in a reported £20m deal.

Tomorrow night Maresca will be hoping that Chelsea can shackle Delap when his side heads to Portman Road, but in the long run he is confident that the England Under-21 international will become a regular member of the senior squad.

“Liam is a fantastic player, and also for his age," Maresca said during his pre-match press conference. “I think we spent one year together and he scored 22 to 24 goals. He is a very good striker.

“England have many good players, many good strikers (but) he's working hard off the ball and on the ball, understands the game and can score goals. I think he can be an important player for England.”

Delap has scored two goals from his 10 appearances for the Three Lions’ Under-21 team.