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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, notably in this league."

"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 provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

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

A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."