🔗 Share this article

Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is important for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

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

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, 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) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches

A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."