🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Look to Address Striker Issues Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the global competition during the summer months Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard". Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer. Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's return is important for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this summer transfer window for a total £85 million Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team. Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with good reason. Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton. More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected". When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the City striker." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought. Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a groin problem until the winter. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica. Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches. After thirteen games in various cups no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals. Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season." Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign. Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine. But Delap was unmoved when queried about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament. "Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."