‘Real shame’ – Concern for Chelsea as £52m signing suffers new injury | Football

Liam Rosenior insisted he and the Chelsea squad would rally around Jamie Gittens after the £52m signing suffered another injury setback.

Gittens had become a key player for Borussia Dortmund and England U21 when Chelsea signed him on a seven-year contract last summer.

The expensive transfer still raised eyebrows, however, as Chelsea already boasted a number of attacking players and decided to sell Noni Madueke to Arsenal in the same window.

Gittens has struggled to cement a regular place in the Chelsea team this season, starting just five Premier League games and scoring only one goal in all competitions.

The 21-year-old has picked up a few frustrating injuries and missed Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale after breaking down in training the previous day.

‘Unfortunately, Jamie, in training yesterday, picked up what looks like a hamstring injury again,’ Rosenior said after Chelsea thrashed League One strugglers Port Vale 7-0.

‘We have to scan him and make sure. It’s a real shame for him; I think it’s the third time it’s happened. We need to help him and we need to make sure he’s okay.’

Asked when he expects Gittens to return to action, Rosenior added: ‘I can’t give you a time frame on that at the moment.’

Chelsea endured a poor period before the international break, losing back-to-back Premier League games and suffering an embarrassing Champions League elimination at the hands of PSG.

They made light work of FA Cup quarter-final opponents Port Vale, however, winning 7-0 at Stamford Bridge to march into the semi-finals.

On reaching a Wembley semi-final, Rosenior – who replaced Enzo Maresca at Chelsea in January – said: ‘It’s great, it’s why you come to this club, you want to win trophies and you want to be in big games.

‘I was really happy with the players. Their attitude was top. We scored seven goals and that came from an energy and intensity which I enjoyed.’

On Chelsea’s recent slump and speculation over his future at the club, Rosenior added: ‘Football is about football on the pitch.

‘This is a huge club with a lot of scrutiny, a lot of people writing a lot of things. We had a really difficult 10 days but the way we came through is a really good step for the run-in.’

Chelsea will face Manchester City, Southampton, West Ham or Leeds United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Man City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 on Saturday while Championship side Southampton stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Chelsea, sitting sixth in the Premier League, return to action next weekend with a home match against Pep Guardiola’s City.

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