Delap Back in Action as The Blues Aim to Solve Striker Issues

Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is important for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - 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 commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."