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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

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

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not expected return from a groin problem until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who donned 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 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue 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 queried about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."