Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. 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 "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in various cups no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and squad members who donned it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
