Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns

Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last campaign, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been vacant since last year, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."