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Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a team facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of securing honors this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition 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 claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

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

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. 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 joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• 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 seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."