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

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is crucial for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

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

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker 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 face broader problems beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist 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, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals 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 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."