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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's comeback is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error 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 - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."