Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two 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 said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in every tournament no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and players who wore 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) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
