🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as The Blues Look to Address Striker Issues Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the global competition during the summer months Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best". Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month. Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this season. Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro Delap (left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this summer transfer window for a total £85 million Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team. Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason. Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully". When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches. After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals. Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season." Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes 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) - zero strikes in 20 appearances A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back. But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition. "In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."