🔗 Share this article

Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since last year, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."