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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."

"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 get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

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

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in various cups no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

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

A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned 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 kit. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."