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Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

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

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

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

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• 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) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

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

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."