Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Striker Issues

Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's return is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

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

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

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

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."