🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the international tournament during the summer months Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard". Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August. Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the new recruit's return is important for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer for a aggregate £85m Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team. Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with good reason. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded". When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland." Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until the winter. Winger 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 £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica. Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals. Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term." Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign. Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and players who sported it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back. But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition. "Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."