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Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• 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) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."