Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is important for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score 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 "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
