Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is important for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
