Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Look to Address Striker Issues

Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's return is vital for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is still to score this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

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