🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as The Blues Seek to Fix Attacking Problems Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during the summer months Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea. The West London club were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best". Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer. Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is important for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this off-season for a total £85 million Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Everton. Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking 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 America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully". When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this league." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until December. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George. Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals. Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season." Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while wearing the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances 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 scores in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches 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) - no goals in 20 games A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine. But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup. "At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."