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Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".

Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.

Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.

Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is important. 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 net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.

Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed 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 loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.

Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.

Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?

Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• 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 sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances

A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.

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

"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."