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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists 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 forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores 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) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

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

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