Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the new recruit's return is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been vacant since last year, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
