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

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably 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 alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."