🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the international tournament during summer Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard". Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in last month. Maresca stated the young striker will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term. 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 the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team. Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded". When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league." "Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last term, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches. After thirteen games in every tournament no attacker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four. Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last campaign." Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term. Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches A engine room operator and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine. But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament. "In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."