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

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a side facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

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

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin problem until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in 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 score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes 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 left-back last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score 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) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

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

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."