Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), 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 recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with additional challenges apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter.
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 recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
