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Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

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

Yet the Three Lions prospect was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

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

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings 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 one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."