Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. 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, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is still to score this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
