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Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's return is crucial for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining 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 currently need to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term 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 zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."