Liam Delap is suffering with a ‘nasty rib injury’ and is only on the substitutes’ bench for Ipswich Town at Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
The 22-year-old has been in impressive form for the Tractor Boys this season, netting 12 Premier League goals.
It looks to be a doomed campaign for Kieran McKenna’s side, with relegation looking likely, but Delap has been a significant bright spot with his performances.
However, he is not in the starting XI at Stamford Bridge and may not even get on the pitch due to the problem he is struggling with.
The Daily Mail report that the England Under-21 striker has ‘a nasty rib injury’ and there is ‘some surprise he managed to make it as a substitute.’
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Whether McKenna risks bringing him on against the Blues is yet to be seen and may depend on how the game is developing in the second half.
The Ipswich boss confirmed the report, saying: ‘Liam has a nasty rib injury that he picked up in the last game. He’s been in pain, not been able to train uninhibited and done well to make the bench. He’s a tough boy. If we can be in the game in the later stages I know he’ll be itching to make the difference.’
Delap will want to get back on the pitch as soon as possible and finish the season strongly, with Ipswich still not mathematically relegated, although they will need a remarkable turnaround to survive.
The former Manchester City forward has been linked with a string of big clubs and even if the Tractor Boys do go down, it seems very unlikely that he will be playing in the Championship next season.
The likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest have all been linked with a move for Delap, who could prove to be a bargain signing.
Signed from City last summer, it was written into Delap’s contract that if Ipswich are relegated then his release clause is set at just £30m.
Top half Premier League clubs will be queueing up to make him an offer in the summer transfer window at that price.
Speaking last week, Alan Shearer said he felt that Delap would become an immediate starter if he joined either Chelsea or United this summer.
‘Liam Delap has been one of the standouts in a really poor season for Ipswich and it’s difficult when you’re up against it every single week to stand out but he’s been one that has,’ Shearer told Betfair.
‘Ipswich fans won’t want to hear it, but it’s inevitable that he’ll be linked with massive football clubs because he’s a really good talent. They’re sat on something special are Ipswich. They put their neck on the line and paid the money for him and they’ve done very well with him.
‘Delap has stood out this season which unfortunately means that he will attract the attention of the big clubs.
‘It’s going to be very difficult for Ipswich to keep hold of him, particularly because if, as expected, they’re going to get relegated. Having had a taste of the Premier League, he won’t want to go back to the Championship.
‘He’ll want to stay in the big league, so it’s going to be very difficult for Ipswich to keep hold of him.
‘If they go down then he won’t want to stay. Who would want to go down and play in the Championship, having had a taste of Premier League football – that’s only natural.
‘Big clubs will be looking at him, because I think he’s got something about him. He’s got an arrogance about him, which I really like and he’s got an aura.
‘He’s already been linked with a number of clubs in the Premier League and looking at who he’s been linked with I think he can go in and command a starting role, because he’s better than anything Man Utd have got up front. He’s also better than anything Chelsea have got up front, so the answer is simple – yes, he would start for those clubs.’