Liam Delap Returns from Injury to Boost Chelsea Attack

Chelsea striker Liam Delap is set to return from a hamstring injury at a crucial time for the club, who are struggling to find goals and consistency.

The 22-year-old has been sidelined for 10 games since picking up the injury during the 2-0 win over Fulham in August, but is expected to feature in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash against Wolves (19:45 GMT).

Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge last weekend drew frustration from manager Enzo Maresca, who blamed “a lack of creativity” and poor crossing for the loss.

Maresca said Delap will be eased back “gradually,” describing his return as crucial to a team under pressure to deliver results and keep their domestic cup hopes alive

Delap to Ease Burden on Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m last summer, beating competition from Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton.

The England U21 forward had initially been behind Joao Pedro—a £55m signing from Brighton—in the pecking order, with the Brazilian impressing early in the season by scoring three goals in three games at the Club World Cup and adding five goal contributions in his first four league matches.

However, Pedro has now gone seven games without a goal, prompting Maresca to admit the striker, along with Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo, needs to be “protected” amid fitness concerns.

“Joao Pedro isn’t a typical No.9 who scores 20 goals a season,” Maresca told BBC Sport. “He’s a creative forward who contributes differently, not like Lewandowski, Mbappé, or Haaland.”

Chelsea’s Wider Attacking Woes

Chelsea’s scoring struggles go beyond their centre-forwards.

• Cole Palmer has played only twice this season due to a groin injury and isn’t expected back until December.
• Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (from Dortmund, £52m) has no goals and one assist in 10 appearances.
• Alejandro Garnacho (from Manchester United, £40m) has one goal in seven.
• Estevão Willian (from Palmeiras, £51m) has contributed two goals and one assist.
• Marc Guiu and Facundo Buonanotte each have one goal, while Marc Cucurella—who scored seven from left-back last season—has yet to find the net.

After 13 matches in all competitions, no Chelsea forward has scored more than two goals. Midfielders Fernández and Caicedo lead the team with four each.

Maresca acknowledged the issue: “We need every attacker to contribute six to ten goals a season, like we did last year.”

Despite their struggles, Chelsea rank second in the Premier League for set-piece goals and are the first team this season with 10 different scorers.

Delap Unfazed by Chelsea’s ‘Number Nine Curse’

Delap will wear Chelsea’s number nine shirt, which many fans consider cursed due to a string of underperforming strikers—from Fernando Torres and Romelu Lukaku to Alvaro Morata and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

But Delap brushed off the superstition.

“I’m not the type who believes in curses,” he said at the Club World Cup. “It’s just a number—and one I’ve always liked as a striker. There’s no pressure.”