Manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Christopher Nkunku is close to making a return from injury.
Nkunku was impressive in preseason for Chelsea, but he sustained an injury against Borussia Dortmund in the ultimate game of their U.S tour.
Pochettino says Christopher Nkunku is “close” to a return from injury and hopes to have him available for selection after the next international break.
The 25-year-old is yet to make his competitive debut for Chelsea following his £47million summer move from RB Leipzig.
The deal to sign Nkunku was agreed back in January 2023, before being completed on July 1, 2023.
Mauricio Pochettino provides update On Christopher Nkunku injury
Pochettino confirmed Nkunku is set to return soon having trained on football grass for the first time during this week.
The Argentine tactician said: “He’s rehabilitating really well. He’s working really hard. I think he’s very very close. Very soon we can have him involved. He’s a really pivotal player for us.”
Pochettino was asked to clear the air on exactly when he might return and he said it could be after the international break when Chelsea face a tough run of fixtures against Newcastle, Brighton and Manchester United.
Chelsea are caught up in a difficult run of matches and they face Brentford next in the Premier League.
Brentford picked up 4 points from a possible 6 against the Blues last season, drawing 0-0 at the Brentford Community Stadium, and then defeating the West London side 0-2 in the second leg.
With Chelsea still sitting in 10th place, despite a four-game unbeaten streak, Pochettino says missing Nkunku has been a reason for their poor start to the season:
“When you see the goals he scored last season, he is a player who can help the team with goals and I think we are missing goals”, he said.
“That’s why I think he is a player that can be key for us because he proves that he can score goals in the Bundesliga. He’s gonna take us up levels.
“Of course, when you compare with other players, we could have eight goals from Nkunku, these are the goals we are missing to be in a different ranking on the table.”
Is Nkunku’s absence the reason for Chelsea’s shortage of goals?
Mauricio Pochettino also made it known that he is hopeful that Christopher Nkunku’s recovery from injury could result in them scoring more goals.
Pochettino said: “But yes, it is unlucky but we cannot complain and we must work hard.
“These things can happen and we are looking forward to recovering him and seeing if the team can score more goals to be in a different position in the table.”
Striker Armando Broja joins Nkunku and five other players on Chelsea’s injury list for the west London derby on Saturday lunchtime.
Reece James is available but won’t feature from the start as he’s not fit enough. The Chelsea boss was coy on whether James would even feature at all.
Pochettino said: “No he’s still not ready to start. He was training well and is really close, but tomorrow he’ll be on the bench.”
During Christopher Nkunku’s time at RB Leipzig, he made 172 appearances for the club, scoring 70 goals and providing 56 assists in all competitions.
