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Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" 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 EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s 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 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

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