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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's return is vital for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A midfielder and backline player are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."