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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's return is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker 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 revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

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

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."