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

The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward scored another two 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 presently require to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

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

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

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

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."