Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Striker Issues

Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

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

Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, 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 top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A midfielder and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

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