Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - 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: "For sure the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in various cups no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, 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) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
