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

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in the summer.

Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.

Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.

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

When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely 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 classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals 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 French superstar or the City striker."

Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack

Chelsea face additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.

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

Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the opening ten matches.

After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.

Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last term."

Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.

Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?

Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances

A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.

"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."