Delap Returns as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's return is crucial for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net 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, the French superstar or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in every tournament no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members 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 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- 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): forty-five strikes 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 20 appearances
A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "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 uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
