Chelsea striker Liam Delap returns from a hamstring injury this week, offering manager Enzo Maresca a much-needed boost as the club struggles in front of goal.
Delap, 22, has been sidelined since August after picking up an injury in a 2-0 win over Fulham. He is expected to feature in the Carabao Cup clash against Wolves on Wednesday.
Chelsea’s attack has been under heavy scrutiny after their 2-1 defeat to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, where Maresca blamed “a lack of creativity” and poor crossing for the loss.
The Blues have lacked a consistent scorer all season, with no forward registering more than two goals in 13 matches across competitions. Midfielders Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo are currently joint top scorers with four each.
Maresca hopes Delap’s return will relieve pressure on João Pedro, who started the season strongly but has not scored in seven games. “João is a fantastic player, but he’s not a 20-goal-a-season striker like Haaland or Mbappé,” Maresca told BBC Sport. “We need goals to come from across the front five.”
Chelsea’s summer signings have also struggled to deliver. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens has no goals in 10 appearances, Alejandro Garnacho has one, and teenage winger Estêvão Willian has managed two. Injuries to Cole Palmer and others have further weakened the attack.
Despite their scoring challanges, Chelsea have been effective from set pieces — second only to Arsenal in goals from dead-ball situations and have had 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Delap, who joined from Ipswich Town for £30 million, has been handed the club’s number nine shirt , a number some fans consider cursed after a long list of underperforming strikers, including Romelu Lukaku, Álvaro Morata, and Fernando Torres.
But the young forward has brushed off the superstition. “It’s just a number,” he said. “There’s no pressure. I just want to help the team score goals again.”
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