Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's return is vital for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three setups 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 three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals 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 PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
