🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the global competition during the warm season Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard". Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month. Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this season. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer for a total £85 million Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees. Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason. Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton. More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected". When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this league." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought. Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica. Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George. Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games. After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four. Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign." Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season. Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while wearing the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea followers feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s 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) - 30 scores in 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue 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 unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup. "At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."