🔗 Share this article Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems Liam Delap scored his only goal for Chelsea at the global competition during the warm season Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea. The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar". Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month. Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season. Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro Delap (to the left) and Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this summer for a total £85 million Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team. Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing 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 secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls. More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected". When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, notably in this competition." "Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland." Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought. Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter. Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica. Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George. Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece. Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures. After 13 matches in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals. Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season." Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign. Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift? Khalid Boulahrouz didn't find the net while sporting the number nine for Chelsea Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey. But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup. "In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."