Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the new recruit's availability is important for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign 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 zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- 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 sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
