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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, the Magpies and the Toffees.

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

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - 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: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face additional challenges 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 lower body issue until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but earlier scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and players who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:

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

A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

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

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."