Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the new recruit's return is vital for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
