Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in every tournament no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked 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 uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."
