Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
