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

The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a side facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

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

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, notably in this division."

"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 find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. 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 shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen games in every tournament no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."