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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches

A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."