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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a groin problem until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

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

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea supporters believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches

A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."