🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during summer Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best". Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month. Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign. Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this summer for a combined £85m Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team. Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded". When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals 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 French superstar or the City striker." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought. Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a groin injury until December. Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals. Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term." Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term. 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 believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup. "In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."