🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during the warm season Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar". Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer. Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the new recruit's availability is important for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this off-season for a total £85 million Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton. Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification. Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully". When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this league." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought. Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until the winter. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After 13 matches in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four. Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season." Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine. But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup. "In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."