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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.

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

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

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

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• 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 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

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

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."