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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with additional challenges apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.

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

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in every tournament no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.

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