Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available 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 games
- 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 strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores 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 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
