Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups 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 said he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since last year, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores 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 midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
