Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns

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

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

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 at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

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

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• 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) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."