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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

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

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who wore 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 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A midfielder and backline player 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 excelled with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."