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

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, 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 frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."