Delap Back in Action as The Blues Look to Address Striker Issues

Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's return is crucial for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite attention from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £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 appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• 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) - no goals in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

"Ultimately 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 enjoy and there's no pressure."