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

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

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

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, 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 [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and players who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, 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 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."