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Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored 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 presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

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

A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse 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 commented at the global competition.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."