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Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is important for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. 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 commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

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

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, 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 found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• 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) - no goals in 20 appearances

A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."