Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Striker Issues

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

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side 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 scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

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

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

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

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."