🔗 Share this article Delap Returns as Chelsea Look to Address Striker Issues Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the international tournament during the warm season Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea. The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best". Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August. Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this campaign. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this summer for a aggregate £85m Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys 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 selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected". When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland." Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier scored only once in the opening ten matches. After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes. Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term." Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term. Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, 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 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games A engine room operator and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back. But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition. "At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."