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

The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's return is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazil striker 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 previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

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

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."