Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns

Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

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

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back 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."