Chelsea’s Striker Dilemma Deepens Ahead of Wolves Clash

Chelsea’s search for goals has reached a critical stage — but there’s finally a glimmer of hope as Liam Delap returns from a hamstring injury just in time for the Carabao Cup clash with Wolves on Wednesday night.

Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that the 22-year-old forward will return “gradually” after missing 10 matches since suffering his injury in August’s 2-0 win over Fulham.

The young striker’s comeback comes at a moment of growing frustration for the Blues, who fell 2-1 to high-flying Sunderland at Stamford Bridge last weekend — a loss Maresca attributed to “a lack of creativity” and poor crossing.

With goals drying up across the squad, Delap’s reintroduction could prove pivotal for Chelsea’s stuttering attack.

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Delap’s Return Could Ease Pressure on Joao Pedro

Signed for £30 million from Ipswich Town, Delap arrived at Stamford Bridge as part of Maresca’s long-term rebuild. However, he found himself behind £55 million signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order after the Brazilian’s explosive start to the season.

Joao Pedro fired five goals and three assists in his first seven games across competitions, including a key role in Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph in the United States.

Since then, however, the former Brighton forward has failed to score in his past seven appearances, sparking concerns about his form and fitness.

Maresca defended the 22-year-old, noting that he is not a “traditional number nine.”

“Joao Pedro is a fantastic player, but he’s not a striker who will score 20 or 25 goals a season,” Maresca told BBC Sport. “He contributes in different ways, but right now we need to protect him — physically and mentally.”

With Delap returning, Maresca hopes to rotate the attacking responsibilities and relieve some of the burden currently placed on Joao Pedro.

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Chelsea’s Worrying Goal Drought

Beyond individual performances, Chelsea’s attack as a unit has struggled mightily. The team’s forwards have combined for just 11 goals across all competitions this season, with midfielders Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo currently sharing top-scorer honours with four goals each.

Injuries have compounded the problem:

• Cole Palmer remains sidelined with a groin issue until December.
• Jamie Bynoe-Gittens has zero goals and just one assist since his £52 million move from Borussia Dortmund.
• Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has scored once in seven games.
• Teenage star Estevão Willian has impressed with flashes of brilliance but managed only two goals and one assist so far.

The club’s top forwards are struggling to produce, forcing Maresca to find goals from deeper positions and set plays.

Despite attacking inconsistency, Chelsea boast the second-most set-piece goals in the Premier League this season — behind only Arsenal — and are the first team in the league to have 10 different scorers.

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The Return of the “Number Nine Curse”?

When Delap chose Chelsea’s iconic number nine shirt in the summer, fans immediately revived talk of the club’s infamous striker curse — a superstition dating back nearly two decades.

Since 2006, several forwards have struggled to shine in the shirt, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 3 goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku – 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Alvaro Morata – 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Fernando Torres – 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Radamel Falcao – 1 goal in 12 appearances

While some argue that Tammy Abraham broke the streak with his 30-goal return, the number has maintained its reputation as a burden for strikers at Stamford Bridge.

Delap, however, brushed off the superstition when asked about it earlier this year:

“I’m not the type of person who believes in curses,” he said. “It’s just a number — and one that’s always been special for strikers. There’s no pressure.”

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Maresca’s Tactical Balancing Act

Maresca’s tactical vision has drawn praise, particularly for his focus on possession and quick transitional play, but the lack of finishing remains his biggest obstacle.

“We need six, seven, eight, nine, ten goals from each of our attacking players,” the Italian coach insisted. “It has to be a collective effort — not just one striker carrying the load.”

As Chelsea head into a crucial stretch of fixtures, including Wednesday’s Carabao Cup trip to Wolves and a league clash with West Ham, all eyes will be on Delap’s fitness — and whether he can finally provide the cutting edge Chelsea have been missing.