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Forward Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face additional challenges apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."