🔗 Share this article

Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - 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 commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest 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 unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."