Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's return is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of securing honors this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind ÂŁ55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, 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 each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to ÂŁ52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a ÂŁ40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to ÂŁ51m, but has only two goals and one assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- 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 goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers 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 kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
