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

The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards 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 missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players 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 fitness aspect is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last campaign."

Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea followers feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who wore it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, 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 goals 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 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games

A midfielder and defensive specialist 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 excelled with the striker's jersey.

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

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."