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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."