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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

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

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. 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 questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

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

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."