Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League 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 young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
