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Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is important for a side facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

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

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:

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

A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

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

"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."