Chelsea suffer fresh injury blow after disappointing draw against Bournemouth

Chelsea's summer signing Liam Delap is facing another spell on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury during the club's goalless draw with Bournemouth.

The striker was forced off just 32 minutes into the match at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Delap appeared to be in significant discomfort after Bournemouth's Marcos Senesi fell on his shoulder, and he was seen clutching the area as he headed straight down the tunnel.

This latest setback comes after the 22-year-old, who joined from Ipswich for a reported £30 million, already missed 59 days this season with a hamstring injury he picked up against Fulham in August.

Speaking after the match, head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed the severity of the situation.

"Unfortunately, he was already out for two months, and he has to be out again," Maresca stated in his post-match press conference. "We don't know for how long, but it looks quite bad, his shoulder. He has been unlucky."

The injury leaves Chelsea with limited options at the number nine position. Marc Guiu replaced Delap against Bournemouth, while Joao Pedro is another recognized striker. Pedro Neto and Tyrique George are also capable of filling the role if required.

"We are a bit unlucky because we need that kind of a No9," Maresca added. "We tried today with Marc [Guiu]. But, yes, it’s an injury."

The result on the south coast followed a disappointing 3-1 midweek loss to Leeds, and Maresca expressed his frustration with his team's lack of cutting edge against the Cherries.

"I think it was a game where we missed quality in the final third, many mistakes," he said. "Some passes in the last third where we can shoot and we didn't. When you are not able to win, it is important we don't lose."

The manager did find a positive in the performance of Cole Palmer, noting, "I think it's something that can happen, the last pass in the last third. Cole was quite good with that, he played half an hour the other day and one hour today."