Chelsea concussion protocols over two injured stars becomes clear as Jesse Derry breaks silence

Chelsea youngster Jesse Derry made his Premier League debut on Monday afternoon but such a special day was ruined with the 18-year-old being stretchered off in the first half

Jesse Derry has thanked everyone involved for their support after he suffered a nasty head injury during his Premier League debut on Monday afternoon.

The 18-year-old was a surprise inclusion in Calum McFarlane’s starting line-up for Chelsea’s top-flight fixture with Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. With Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho both missing after taking knocks in training, McFarlane, previously the Under-21s head coach, put his faith in academy star Derry.

Derry has been in fine form for Chelsea ‘s academy this season, with his performances earning him a couple of cameo appearances for the senior team in the FA Cup. The teenager, signed from Crystal Palace last summer, saw his “dream come true” on Monday, being handed his debut in the Premier League, but that lasted just 45 minutes after a clash of heads with Forest defender Zach Abbott saw the young winger stretchered off.

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The whole of Stamford Bridge applauded when Derry was being carried off, before later being taken to St. Mary’s Hospital – just over three miles from Chelsea’s stadium. Derry has now posted on social media to thank those who helped him.

Taking to Instagram, Derry wrote: “A dream come true to start at Stamford Bridge for my Premier League debut. 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.”

Interim head coach McFarlane was asked about Derry post-match, and said: “We’re hearing positive signs from Jesse and Rob (Sanchez, who was also taken off after a head collision with Morgan Gibbs-White) and I hope the Nottingham Forest players are okay as well. But yeah, I’m pleased for Jesse’s performance.

“I thought he performed well while he was on the pitch, but there’s probably more important things to think about right now.”

With two hefty collisions that led to four players – two for each team – being substituted during Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Forest, Abbott was the only ‘concussion sub’ during the match in west London, sources say. While neither Derry or Sanchez were taken off as a ‘concussion sub’, the Blues will still take the usual protocols with the two players.

That has cast doubt over Sanchez and whether he will be involved in Saturday afternoon’s trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool. The FA’s ‘graduated return to play’ (GRTP) protocol says ‘this staged programme commences at midnight on the day of injury and stage 1 (initial rest period) is 14 days in all players unless they are in an enhanced care setting. In all cases, progression to stage 2 of the GRTP can only occur if the player has no symptoms’.

There are six stages involved in the FA’s GRTP. Stage one ‘is an initial rest period during which symptoms should resolve. This stage must be extended if symptoms persist’. Stage two, three, four and five are all ‘training based activity’, with stage six: ‘return to full training and match play’.

Here is a bit more detail on the six stages:

Stage 1

– Complete body and brain rest

– No training

– Recovery

– No symptoms at the end of the two weeks

Stage 2

– Walking, light jogging, swimming, stationary cycling or equivalent

– No football, resistance training, weight lifting, jumping or hard running

– All of this being done with the player’s heart rate less than 70%

– No more than 15 minutes

Stage 3

– Simple movement activities, e.g. running drills

– Limit body and head movement

– No head impact activities, including no heading

– All of this being done with the player’s heart rate less than 80%

– No more than 45 minutes

Stage 4

– Progression to more complex training activities with increased intensity, coordination and attention e.g. passing, change of direction, shooting, small-sided game

– May start resistance training

– No head impact activities including no heading – goalkeeping activities should avoid diving and any risk of the head being hit by the ball

– All of this being done with the player’s heart rate less than 90%

– No more than 60 minutes

Stage 5

– Normal training activities e.g. tackling, heading, diving saves

Stage 6

– Player rehabilitated and then they can return to play

Is there a set return date?

There is no set return date for any players suffering with concussion. If a player fails any of the above stages, the process will extend. It completely varies depending on the stages.