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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.

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

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

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

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers 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 summer - is hexed. It had been available since 2023, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• 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) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."