Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Striker Issues

Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

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

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

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

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."

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

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."