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

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A engine room operator and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

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

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."