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

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

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

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and players who wore 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) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A engine room operator and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."