Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to keep £52 million summer signing Christopher Nkunku on the bench against Newcastle United on Wednesday (kick-off 8pm).
The Frenchman joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the summer but has yet to make a competitive appearance after undergoing surgery on a knee injury sustained during pre-season.
Nkunku was named to the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United, but he wasn’t risked because Pochettino said he was “one or two percent doubtful” about the striker’s fitness.
The Blues manager played down talk that the 26-year-old is ready to start against the Magpies, but he did admit that a 20-minute cameo is possible.
“Christopher was involved last game and will be involved,” Pochettino said. He’s doing well in training. Perhaps he will play a few minutes in the game. I didn’t want to take a chance on him. How do I perceive him today? I can tell you that he might be able to play 20 minutes.
“When I saw him before the game against Sheffield United, I was one or two percent unsure, which is why I didn’t want to take a chance.”
“I explained to him that I needed to be 100 percent.” I believe it was beneficial for him to warm up with the team, but why take a risk when the game is already 2-0? Because 1% of my mind was thinking, ‘I don’t know if this is the right time for him to play.'”
