Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues

Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless 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 queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."