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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the new recruit's return is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

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

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £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 matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes 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 included in this group, and some would contend 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 asked about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."