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

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored 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 drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his last two games, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since last year, 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 fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

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

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."