🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during the warm season Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar". Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer. Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this off-season for a aggregate £85m Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team. Yet the young English striker was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully". When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea face broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until December. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals. Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season." Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight 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 think the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition. "At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."