Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times 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 found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since last year, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- 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) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
