Delap Returns as The Blues Look to Address Forward Concerns

Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, 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 the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s 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) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."