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

The Blues lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who wore it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

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

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."