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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

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 engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

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