Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- 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 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A central player 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 excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
