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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is important for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

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

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their strikers 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 the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

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

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• 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) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when queried about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."