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

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution 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, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."