Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is important for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "For sure 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 traditional striker that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is without a goal 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 first 10 games.
After thirteen games in various cups no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
