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Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers 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) - fifteen strikes 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 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• 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) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."