Delap Back in Action as The Blues Seek to Fix Striker Issues

Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said 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 queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."

"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 different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

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

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

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

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."