🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the global competition during the warm season Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea. The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard". Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer. Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this off-season for a aggregate £85m Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees. Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully". When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea face additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month. Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the first 10 games. After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes. Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign." Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues 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 was goalless while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition. "In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."