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

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

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".

When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.

Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games

A midfielder and defender are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

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

"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."