Chelsea are convinced that Liam Delap will recover from his shoulder injury in four weeks, which is not as severe as initially anticipated.
The striker had to be replaced 31 minutes into Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bournemouth when Cherries defender Marcos Senesi landed awkwardly on Delap.
It left him clutching his shoulder in anguish as he walked off the field and down the tunnel to be replaced by Marc Guiu.
Manager Enzo Maresca commented immediately after the game that it looked “quite bad”, but Standard Sport understands there is optimism at Chelsea that he could return after four weeks rather than being sidelined for a lengthier period.
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Maresca, speaking in Italy ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Atalanta, said on Monday: “Liam has not broken anything. To be honest, I don’t know how long he’ll be out.
Delap is thought to have injured the acromioclavicular joint in his right shoulder, although surgery is not expected.
There were even suggestions that the Blues should have signed striker Emanuel Emegha as cover in January rather than waiting until next summer, when he has already committed to join from sister club Strasbourg.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has never contemplated this option and intends to let the Strasbourg captain finish his final full season in France.
Delap joined West London for £30 million from Ipswich in the summer and has already been sidelined by injury in his short time with the Blues. He missed two months of action in September and October due to a hamstring injury suffered in August’s 2-0 victory against Fulham.
The 22-year-old’s only goal this season came in a 3-0 Champions League win over 10-man Barcelona at Stamford Bridge last month.
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