Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Striker Issues

Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's return is important for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

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

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "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 digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."