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

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in various cups no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who donned it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

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