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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's return is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

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

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• 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 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes 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) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.

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

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."