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

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."