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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a club facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

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

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face broader problems beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
• 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 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches

A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

"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 strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."