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Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's return is vital for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this term.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
• 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) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

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

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."