🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during the summer months Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard". Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer. Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this off-season for a total £85 million Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team. Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected". When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition." "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 find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches. After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four. Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term." Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine. But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [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 figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."