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Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

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

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the conditioning element is important. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

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

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.

Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

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

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."