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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering 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 Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca said the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.

Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the young English striker was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals 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 revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

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

A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.

But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."