🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the global competition during the warm season Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea. The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best". Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month. Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season. Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this summer for a total £85 million Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees. Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected". When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea face wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought. Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling youth product Tyrique George. Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four. Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last season." Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign. Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift? Khalid Boulahrouz was goalless while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament. "At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."