🔗 Share this article Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns Liam Delap found the net for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during the warm season Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea. The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar". Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer. Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (left) and Joao Pedro signed for Chelsea this summer transfer window for a aggregate £85m Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton. Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls. More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully". When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this division." "Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, 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 French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought. Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month. Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the first 10 games. After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes. Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term." Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine. But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup. "Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."