Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been vacant since last year, and players who wore it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
