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

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• 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) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

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

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."