Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Look to Address Attacking Problems

Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's return is important for a team facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

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

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

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

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

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

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

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."