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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's return is vital for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures 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 players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

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

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

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