🔗 Share this article Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the Club World Cup during the warm season Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea. The Blues lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar". Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month. Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this season. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea this off-season for a total £85 million Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton. Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause. Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton. More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless 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 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition." "Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine." Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought. Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month. Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George. Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches. After thirteen games in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes. Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign." Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign. Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken? Khalid Boulahrouz failed to score while wearing the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back. But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup. "Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."