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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".

When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense

Chelsea face broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.

Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a groin problem until the winter.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal 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 forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."

Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this season.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A engine room operator and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

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

"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."