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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's return is crucial for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes 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 backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

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

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."