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Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect 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 matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in various cups no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A central player and defender are part of this selection, 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 unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

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