Chelsea have been handed a much-needed boost on the injury front after scans confirmed that Liam Delap shoulder problem is not as serious as initially feared. The young striker is now expected to return to action in around four weeks, easing concerns that he could be sidelined for a lengthy spell.
Liam Delap was forced off just after the half-hour mark in Saturday’s goalless draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium after landing awkwardly following a collision with defender Marcos Senesi. The 22-year-old immediately clutched his right shoulder in visible discomfort and was replaced by teenage forward Marc Guiu before heading straight down the tunnel.
Manager Enzo Maresca admitted after the game that the early signs “looked quite bad,” prompting fears that Delap could face several months out. However, further medical assessment has revealed the damage to be less severe than anticipated.
Liam Delap suffered an injury to his right shoulder’s acromioclavicular (AC) joint, which is a painful but rather typical setback for athletes, according to Standard Sport. Crucially, there is no fracture or ligament tear, and the issue is not expected to require surgery. Chelsea’s medical team are therefore optimistic that he can resume full training within four weeks, potentially making his return early next month.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Atalanta on Monday, Maresca confirmed that the striker had avoided major damage. “Liam has not fractured anything,” he told reporters in Italy. “I’m not sure exactly how long he will be out, to be honest, but it’s not as serious as it could have been.”
There had been speculation that the club might consider accelerating the arrival of Emanuel Emegha from sister club Strasbourg to compensate for Delap’s absence. However, Chelsea sources have made it clear that such a move was never on the table, with the plan remaining for Emegha to complete his season in France before joining in the summer.
Liam Delap, who joined Chelsea for £30 million from Ipswich Town in the summer, has endured a stop-start campaign so far. A hamstring injury in August ruled him out for nearly two months, and his only goal of the season came in the 3–0 Champions League win over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge last month.
Chelsea will hope his latest setback proves short-lived as Maresca looks to restore consistency in attack during a crucial period of the campaign.
