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Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the new recruit's return is vital for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.

Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro

Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.

More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."

Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line

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

Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter.

Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."

Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches

A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.

But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."