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Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the new recruit's return is vital for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no attacker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."