Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's return is important for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "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 classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations 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 Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."