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Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the young striker will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's return is important for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

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

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores 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 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• 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) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist 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 flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented 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 historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."