🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Attacking Problems Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the global competition during the summer months Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best". Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer. Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this term. Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer transfer window for a total £85 million Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team. Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton. More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded". When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, 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 the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker." Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea face wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought. Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter. Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in 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, eighteen, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four. Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season." Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back. But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament. "Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."