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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

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

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.

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

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."