Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
