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

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in various cups no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes 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 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches

A midfielder and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."