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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless 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 questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters think the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who donned 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 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

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

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."