🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Forward Concerns Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the global competition during the summer months Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar". Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer. Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this season. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this summer transfer window for a aggregate £85m Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team. Yet the Three Lions prospect was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton. More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded". When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times 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 ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought. Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches. After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes. Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term." Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz was goalless while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, 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 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games 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) - a single strike in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine. But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition. "Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."