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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's return is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

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

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.

Winger 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 £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

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