Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Striker Issues

Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's return is crucial for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker 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 potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• 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): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

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

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