Delap Back in Action as The Blues Aim to Solve Striker Issues

Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

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

After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• 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) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."