🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Look to Address Attacking Problems Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during summer Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea. The Blues 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 forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in August. Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this season. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this summer transfer window for a aggregate £85m Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees. Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded". When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this league." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought. Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes. Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign." Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign. Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine. But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition. "Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."