Delap Back in Action as The Blues Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. 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 "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores 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 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."