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

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "subpar".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of securing honors this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

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

Attacking midfielder 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 goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in every tournament no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, 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 term."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."