Prior to his probable debut against Newcastle United on Wednesday (kick-off 8pm), Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is anxious to safeguard £52 million summer acquisition Christopher Nkunku.
The Frenchman left RB Leipzig for Stamford Bridge in the summer, but he hasn’t played in a league since having surgery to repair a preseason knee injury.
In Saturday afternoon’s 2-0 triumph against Sheffield United, Nkunku was kept off the pitch despite manager Mauricio Pochettino’s admission that he was “one or two percent in doubt” about the striker’s health.
The Blues manager acknowledged the potential of a 20-minute cameo but downplayed claims that the 26-year-old is prepared to start against the Magpies.
“Christopher was involved last game and is going to be involved,” Pochettino stated. He is doing a good job of training. Perhaps he will play a few minutes in the game. I was not willing to take a chance on him. How do I feel about him now? I could say he could play for twenty minutes at most.
“I didn’t want to take a chance because of how I felt about him before the Sheffield United game—I was a little bit unsure about him.
In the first meeting between Chelsea and Newcastle this season, Eddie Howe’s team won 4-1 at St. James’ Park thanks to goals from Anthony Gordon, Joelinton, Anthony Isak, and Jamaal Lascelles.
The Magpies are vying for a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and want to win at Stamford Bridge for the first time since a 2-1 victory in 2012 thanks to a brace from Papiss Cisse.
“For Newcastle also, it is an important competition but for us at
