Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Look to Address Forward Concerns

Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a side facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed 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 one score in seven matches 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 setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since last year, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."