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

The Blues lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's return is important for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.

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

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

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

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

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

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