Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
