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

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Definitely, 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 season."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches

A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."