Delap Returns as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- 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 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
