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Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.

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

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

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

Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

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

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."