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Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is important for a club facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

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

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• 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 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."