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Forward Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is important for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition 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 secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal 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 one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, 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 fans believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported 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 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

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

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."