🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Look to Address Forward Concerns Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the global competition during the warm season Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea. The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard". Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer. Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign. Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer for a combined £85m Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton. Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton. More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected". When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four. Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term." Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season. Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back. But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament. "In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."