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Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

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

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

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca stated 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 decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

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

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.

Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:

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

A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

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

"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."