Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Striker Issues

Liam Delap Chelsea action
Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during the summer months

Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

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 mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Delap and Joao Pedro Chelsea
Delap (left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this off-season for a combined £85m

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not expected return from a groin injury until the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Chelsea number nine history
Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while sporting the number nine for Chelsea

Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied 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 games
  • Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
  • Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
  • Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
  • Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
  • Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
  • Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
  • Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
  • Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
  • Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."

Dr. Ryan Flores
Dr. Ryan Flores

Kaelen is a seasoned gaming strategist with over a decade of experience in competitive gaming and community building.