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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a side facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• 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 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

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

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."