Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Forward Concerns

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

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

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

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal 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 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

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.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."