Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's return is crucial for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
