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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches 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 fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

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

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• 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 scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

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

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

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."