Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's return is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders 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 stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.
Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
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