Delap Returns as Chelsea Aim to Solve Striker Issues

Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the young striker will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is important for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error 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 - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the off-season - 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) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

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

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."