Delap returns as Chelsea aim to solve striker issues

Chelsea are in desperate need of hamstring replacement Liam Delap.

Sunderland, the Blues’ surprise team, defeated the Blues 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, manager Enzo Maresca blaming “a lack of creativity” and his side’s “not the best” crossing.

Delap has missed 10 games since picking up the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August, but his forwards are struggling for goals and assists against Chelsea’s lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

However, Joao Pedro, an England Under-21s player, was in the middle of the $ 55 million signing’s hierarchy for the summer’s Club World Cup, and for good reason.

Chelsea’s first American championship victory came down to Joao Pedro scoring three goals in three appearances. In his first four Premier League games since moving from Brighton, the Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists.

Joao Pedro hasn’t scored in any of his previous seven games, though, which is more recent. Maresca claimed to be one of three players currently required to be “protected,” along with midfielders Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

Maresca responded to a question from BBC Sport regarding Joao Pedro’s form-recording performance, saying: “For sure, the physical part is crucial. It’s challenging to compete when you’re not 100%, especially in this league.

Beyond Joao Pedro’s goalless run and their strikers, Chelsea has other problems.

Cole Palmer, a forward, has only played two games this season and is not expected to start playing until December due to a groin injury.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, a winger who moved from Borussia Dortmund for a fee that eventually reached £52 million, has 10 goals and one assist. A 40 million man from Manchester United, Alfonso Garnacho, forced an own goal against Benfica and has scored one goal in seven games.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee that has increased to £51 million, but he has only two goals and one assist in the same academy as academy forward Tyrique George.

One goal each were scored by Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte and Marc Guiu.

Marc Cucurella, who had seven goals from left-back last year, has not found the net so far this campaign. In his previous two games, winger Pedro Neto scored just once in his first ten games, but he has now added one goal and two assists.

No forward has more than two goals after 13 games, with Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea’s top scorers with four.

Maresca questioned whether having a lack of natural goal scorers necessitates a shared responsibility. “Yes, absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that in order to achieve the top six, seven, eight, nine, and ten goals, we must start with the front five players first.

Some Chelsea fans think Delap took the number nine shirt in the summer, but some people think that’s a curse. Since 2023, players who have worn it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

With nine on their backs, legendary strikers like Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled while some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record.

When Delap was questioned about the curse, he was unmoved. At the Club World Cup, he said, “I don’t believe in curses.