🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Striker Issues Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the global competition during the summer months Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar". Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer. Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is important for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer transfer window for a aggregate £85m Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton. Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected". When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the City striker." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run. Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the first 10 games. After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes. Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term." Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this campaign. Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea supporters feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, 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) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition. "Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."