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Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. 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 shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club 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 center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."