Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's return is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly 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 get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
