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Mauricio Pochettino stated that Christopher Nkunku may be ready to play for Chelsea the week following the November break for international matches. This is due to his swift progress in healing from a knee injury, which was initially projected to take longer.
The 25-year-old player was hurt during a friendly match against Borussia Dortmund while on the club’s pre-season tour in the United States. It was initially predicted that he would not return until December, but that estimate has been moved up, potentially allowing him to finally make his competitive debut when the team takes on Newcastle at St James’s Park on November 25th.
Pochettino’s plans for the new season were dealt a major setback when Nkunku, who had just joined from RB Leipzig for £52m, was sidelined for several weeks. This was especially disappointing as Nkunku had been one of the top players during the team’s two-week trip to the US.
When the Premier League season started, Chelsea’s lack of goals was noticeable due to his absence. They only scored five times in their first six matches, and were unable to score at all in September.
The team has significantly improved their record in the past three games, scoring more than twice their previous goal count. The potential return of the French player, who was a top scorer in the Bundesliga with 16 goals last season, would be a positive for Pochettino as the team prepares for a challenging series of upcoming matches.
Following the meeting with Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, Chelsea will then have a series of back-to-back league games against Tottenham, Manchester City, Newcastle, Brighton, and Manchester United.
Pochettino stated that Nkunku is performing excellently and putting in a lot of effort, and that he believes he is very near to being ready. He hopes to have him back in action as soon as possible.
“Perhaps he could participate in the upcoming international events.”
He is a player who has shown his ability to score goals last season, and we believe that he can bring that same goal-scoring impact to our team. We feel that we are lacking goals and see him as a valuable player who can help us in that area.
“He has demonstrated his ability to score in the Bundesliga. If Nkunku had scored eight or 10 goals today, the league standings may have been significantly altered.”
“We are lacking in achieving our goals to be in a better position. Although it may be unfortunate, we cannot make excuses and instead, must focus on putting in the work. We eagerly anticipate his return and the positive impact it will have on our team’s position.”
Pochettino stated in the past that he may consider exploring options in the transfer market if the team’s scoring performance did not improve by January. However, with a recent streak of eight goals in three league games and Nkunku’s improvement, he may not feel as much pressure to make any immediate changes.
According to him, football is highly dynamic. Our current approach may differ from three weeks ago, but we are collaborating with our sporting directors to ensure we are prepared for the upcoming transfer window, should we require additional players in an offensive role.
On Thursday, the Premier League announced that Chelsea will play in the league’s first Christmas Eve game since 1995. Their match against Wolves, originally scheduled for December 23, has been rescheduled to accommodate television broadcasting.
The choice has sparked a lot of disapproval from fans, but it holds special meaning for the Pochettino family as it falls on his and his wife’s 31st wedding anniversary. However, the manager will have to spend the day traveling to Wolverhampton.
“Our supporters are unhappy? Same here. My wife and I have our anniversary on the 23rd and now I have to go travel to Wolves.”
I don’t think I will be able to persuade her to come.
The 24th of December holds great significance for Argentinians and I hope to make it home in time to join in the celebration. However, if our supporters are not satisfied, I am not content either.
“It is a challenging decision to alter, but we must acknowledge that we are in England and it differs from the rest of the world. I must adjust accordingly. Even if I am not content, I must strive to perform at my highest level and recognize that this is a situation that cannot be altered.”
Source: independent.co.uk
