🔗 Share this article Delap Returns as Chelsea Aim to Solve Attacking Problems Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the international tournament during the warm season Forward Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea. The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard". Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month. Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a team facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign. Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer for a combined £85m Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton. Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton. More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score 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 currently need to be "shielded". When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, particularly 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 score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures. After 13 matches in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals. Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season." Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches 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) - no goals in twenty matches A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back. But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup. "Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."