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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's return is important for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

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

Yet the young English striker was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."