Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably 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 score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Chelsea face wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit 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 arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
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 goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.
Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
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