Thankfully for Chelsea Football Club there has been some encouraging injury news concerning Christopher Nkunku as Blues manager Mauricio Pochettino faces a conundrum.
A lot of people were tipping Nkunku to hit Premier League ground running, so to speak. Unfortunately the former RB Leipzig man was injured versus Borussia Dortmund earlier in the week. Initially, Blues supporters were annoyed and worried following unnecessary and clumsy reports claiming the player could be sidelined for quite some time with the knee problem. However, all is not apparently what it seemed or was claimed to be.
Nkunku was particularly prevalent for the Blues during the preseason schedule. He was also as impressive as he was evident on the pitch. Overall he netted three goals while on the United States Tour before sustaining the issue versus BvB. Sadly the Frenchman is not expected to feature in the west London outfit’s opening 2023/24 Premier League clash against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 13. But there is good news emerging courtesy of Evening Standard following the scare of a lengthy layoff. They suggest CFC’s relief at the fact that the Lagny-sur-Marne-born athlete might perhaps only be out for weeks as opposed to months.
If Christopher Nkunku does not play versus Liverpool, which is very likely, which Blues star will replace him? Mauricio Pochettino has choices
The same outlet does not completely eliminate Nkunku’s potential involvement in the Reds match. They do state that he is a ‘major doubt’, nonetheless. If Pochettino must choose someone else to play instead of the striker/second forward, there is a list of potential candidates.
The Standard predict that ‘Poch’ will opt for one of either Mykhailo Mudryk or Ian Maatsen to start on the left wing, or as a left attacker. And I believe some people will be surprised to see Maatsen begin the game despite many thrilling offseason displays. Surely Nicolas Jackson starts as centreforward.