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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's return is important for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who donned it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."