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

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's return is important for a team facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

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

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
• 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) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."