Morecambe players pay tribute to former team-mate at Chelsea

He passed away last May, aged 23, four months after joining the Shrimps for whom he made three appearances.

They honoured Mbulu at Stamford Bridge by placing a framed photo of him in the away dugout.

Shrimps’ skipper Sam Lavelle, who missed out after testing positive for Covid-19, had hinted something was planned when using social media to explain his absence from the line-up.

Writing on Twitter, Lavelle said: “The first game I’ve missed since the opening day so to say I’m gutted is an understatement.

“Missing one of the biggest occasions in the club’s history is a real blow.

“I also had something planned in memory of Christian Mbulu for the cameras when walking out (of) the tunnel, which I’m just as gutted about.”

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