🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the global competition 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 shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best". Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August. Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of securing honors this campaign. Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this off-season for a combined £85m Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team. Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected". When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this league." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine." Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea face additional challenges apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run. Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games. After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes. Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term." Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, 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 goals in 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition. "At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."