🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the global competition during the summer months Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea. The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar". Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month. Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's return is crucial for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of securing honors this term. Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer for a total £85 million Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton. Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton. 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 presently require to be "shielded". When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run. Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures. After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four. Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season." Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign. Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken? Khalid Boulahrouz was goalless while wearing the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches 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) - zero strikes in twenty matches A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unmoved when queried about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup. "In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."