Delap Returns as The Blues Look to Address Attacking Problems

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

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the young striker will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's return is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

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

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, 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) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

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