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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a side facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

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

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who wore it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

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

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