🔗 Share this article Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns Liam Delap registered his sole strike for Chelsea at the international tournament during the summer months Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea. The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar". Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer. Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (on the left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this summer for a total £85 million Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees. Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded". When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. 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 net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the City striker." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack Chelsea face broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak. Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each. Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures. After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four. Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last term." Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term. Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End? Khalid Boulahrouz was goalless while bearing the nine shirt for Chelsea Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances 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 goals in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back. But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament. "In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."