Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Attacking Problems

Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite attention from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a groin problem until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching academy forward 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 term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."