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

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes 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) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

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

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."