Delap ignores shoulder trouble

Midfielder admits Potters can't afford to relax just yet

Last updated: 23rd April 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Delap ignores shoulder trouble

Delap: Sore shoulder

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Stoke City midfielder Rory Delap will wait until the summer to have a shoulder injury fixed as he focuses on keeping the club in the Premier League.

Delap's long throw-ins have proved an effective weapon in the Potters' bid to retain their top-flight status and have caused countless problems for opposition defences.

He was hampered by an arm injury earlier in the season and admits he is now suffering from a shoulder complaint.

However, the Irishman believes he can wait until the summer to have the injury looked at, with Stoke not yet certain of survival, despite being eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Sore shoulder

"I have got a bit of a sore shoulder, but hopefully I can get that sorted out in the summer," said Delap.

"We cannot afford to relax. If you do that you could end up without a point between now and the end of the season.

"Even if we do stay up we don't want to go into the next campaign on a poor run of form."

Delap has weighed in with a number of assists thanks to the different ways he launches the ball from the touchline, but is bewildered by all the fuss surrounding his throw-ins.

He said: "I have used it wherever I have been, but probably I am having more success here. That is to do with the manager and the players we have.

"It has been strange to get so much attention and managers going on about what I do. Maybe teams think we are a one-trick pony.

"If that tactic deflects from the other things we are doing, it is great. I am sure we will keep using the throws as a small part of our game."

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