Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed 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 asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and players who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
