Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's return is important for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A engine room operator and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."