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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly 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 gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."

"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 give assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

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

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

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

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."