Delap Returns as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is still to score this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, 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 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
