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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite interest from Manchester United, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. 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 questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

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

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, 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 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

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

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."