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Attacker 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 their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is important for a club facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

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

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 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 attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this term.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who sported it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals 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 score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.

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