Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. 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 failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."