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

The Blues lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a team facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking 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 Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."

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

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• 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) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."