Liam Delap: Chelsea handed new injury headache as striker forced off against Bournemouth | OneFootball

Striker facing more time on sidelines amid stop-start season

The problem was caused as Chelsea defended a corner, with Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi landing awkwardly on Delap after the corner was taken.

Delap appeared to be in pain and was seen to by doctors before being brought off.

He will be assessed by Chelsea’s medical staff, but the injury suffered appeared to be a dislocated shoulder as he held his arm in a makeshift sling while walking off the pitch and down the tunnel at the Vitality Stadium.

It remains to be seen whether 22-year-old Delap will miss any further matches due to the injury.

It was at the end of October that he returned to the Chelsea team after two months out injured with a hamstring injury he sustained in the 2-0 win over Fulham back in August.

The Premier League clash with Bournemouth was still goalless when he came off.

Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich in June ahead of the Club World Cup as his £30million relegation release clause was triggered by the Blues. He has scored twice for the club, including in last month’s 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League.