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Forward Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's return is important for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

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

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."