Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a groin problem until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
