Chelsea teen speaks for first time since scary head injury
Chelsea’s teen winger Jesse Derry has spoken for the first time after he was hospitalised with a nasty head injury in the Blues’ 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest.
It was Derry’s Premier League debut, and he was handed the start by caretaker boss Callum McFarlane. And while it was a first-half to forget for Chelsea fans as relegation battlers Forest raced to a 2-0 lead, it was still a big occasion for Derry, whose father Shaun used to play for the likes of QPR and Leeds.
However, the 18-year-old would be on the receiving end of a scary moment when he collided with Forest defender Zach Abbott. The two collided heads, with Derry coming off worst as he looked unconscious and was stretchered off in a neck brace following a lengthy delay.
Jesse Derry. Pic: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
The collision would win his side a penalty, which Cole Palmer missed as Chelsea lost their sixth game in a row, but all fans were worried about Derry’s condition.
The club issued an update on Derry during the game, saying: ‘Jesse Derry has been taken to hospital as a precaution following his first-half substitution during today’s game against Nottingham Forest.
‘Jesse is conscious, talking and undergoing precautionary checks. We wish him a speedy recovery and thank the medical staff for their swift response.’
The teenager then released a statement himself on Tuesday morning following a night in the hospital. ‘A dream come true to start at Stamford Bridge for my Premier League debut’, Derry posted on Instagram.
Derry receives medical treatment. Pic: Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
‘I’d like to thank all the Chelsea medical staff, everyone at St Mary’s Hospital, my teammates, and all the fans for their great support.
‘I can’t wait to be back playing in front of everyone very soon.’
Derry will hope he can return to the Chelsea line-up before the end of the season, as the Blues look to steer the ship around and move back up the table, having slipped down to ninth.
