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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score 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 "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, 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 said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."