Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite attention from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who donned 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 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
