Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches 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 said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the conditioning element is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last season, is still to score this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in various cups no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this season.
Some Chelsea supporters feel the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who donned it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."
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