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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".

Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the new recruit's return is important for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored 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 "protected".

When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."

"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

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

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

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea supporters think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A engine room operator and defensive specialist 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 striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [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 shirt. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."