Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. 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 [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- 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) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, 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 the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
