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

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a team facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

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 valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

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

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been vacant since last year, and squad members who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• 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 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."