Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- 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 among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
