Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is important for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, 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 presently require to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Wide player 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 acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games 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 - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is without a goal this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters think the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
