Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns

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

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), 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 gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

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

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but before that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

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

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

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

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."