Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals 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 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
