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

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the young English striker 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 found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

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

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who wore 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) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."