🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Striker Issues Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the international tournament during summer Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea. The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar". Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August. Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this season. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this summer transfer window for a aggregate £85m Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton. Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said 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 commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker." Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals. Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season." Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term. Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea followers feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest 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 unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition. "At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."