Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns

Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's availability is important for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."