Player Chelsea shouldn't have let go may return amid 3-month lay-off for Blues star

Not long ago, Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino explained why Lewis Hall was allowed to depart. Basically, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain manager hinted that Hall wanted minutes with CFC. However, due to an abundance of left-sided quality at the back, the Blues academy product was relinquished. He moved to Newcastle United on loan; there is an obligation to buy, but a problem has arisen. This could be a blessing in disguise for Pochettino:

"Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has admitted loanee Lewis Hall could be heading back to Chelsea next year - despite an obligation to buy.

However, that will only become active after a certain amount of appearances are made by the 19-year-old for the Toon outfit this season.

Hall has made just six appearances for Newcastle so far in all competitions, prompting talk that he could return to Chelsea next summer.

And when asked about the England Under-21 international's situation on Friday, Howe replied: "You’re probably asking the wrong man, I’m not 100 per cent sure."

At this point, a club official intervened when Howe was asked if Hall would be a Newcastle player past the current season."

Chelsea fullback Marc Cucurella could be out until at least March

Cucurella had to win Pochettino over in order to solidify his own place in the 2023/24 squad. He managed, just, by all accounts. Subsequently 'Cucu' was denied a starting role, with Ben Chilwell rightly occupying the left-back space. Injuries on both sides of defence enabled a chance for the Spaniard to show the Argentine gaffer what he was really all about. Trust was consequently earned, to be fair.

Avoiding the cull from the then-new boss wasn't particularly expected in most corners of the Blues sphere, but transpired all the same. In the most recent of times, you could argue that the former Brighton & Hove Albion man has become an important fixture of Pochettino's stuttering but occasionally exciting team; see the Tottenham and Liverpool matches for those examples.

Unfortunately Cucu is now injured, and it isn't a simple matter from which he shall make a very quick comeback. Following an operation on his foot, the 25-year-old could miss around 12 weeks of action with the west Londoners.