Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned 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 kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
