Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's return is vital for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition 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 outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
