Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Attacking Problems

Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."