🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Striker Issues Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the global competition during the summer months Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea. The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best". Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer. Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's return is crucial 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 Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this summer transfer window for a total £85 million Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team. Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded". When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this league." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea face broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run. Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games. After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four. Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term." Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this term. Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while wearing the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances 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 goals in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances A engine room operator and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition. "Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."