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

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

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

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

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

Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.

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

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues 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 fans think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes 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 among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."