Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Look to Address Striker Issues

Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is important for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his past two matches, but earlier scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

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

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt 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 zero expectation."