Delap Returns as The Blues Aim to Solve Striker Issues

Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches

A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

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

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."