Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's return is vital for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned 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 discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."