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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

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

Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

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

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

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

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no attacker 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: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."