Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but earlier scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- 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) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A engine room operator and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
