Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Striker Issues

Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a team facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last term, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, 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 jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."