Christopher Nkunku will be part of Chelsea's match squad for the first time on Saturday. The 26-year-old Frenchman could make his debut in the match against Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge.
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Christopher Nkunku has had to be patient. The French international's start at Chelsea was delayed due to a severe knee injury sustained shortly after his transfer from RB Leipzig in an August pre-season match against Borussia Dortmund.
After months of rehabilitation, Nkunku is now ready to play, confirmed by manager Mauricio Pochettino on Friday afternoon.
Nkunku's integration into the team comes at a crucial time. Following a 2-0 defeat to Everton last weekend, Pochettino emphasized the need for additional reinforcements. Chelsea has been underperforming, currently in a disappointing twelfth place in the Premier League standings. A notable statistic is Chelsea's wastefulness with scoring opportunities. In terms of Expected Goals, they are the fourth-highest in the Premier League (30.71), outperforming teams like Arsenal (29.70), Tottenham Hotspur (27.76), and Manchester United (25.67), and only slightly trailing behind Manchester City (31.01). However, while City has scored 38 times, Chelsea only has 26 goals to their name.
With these figures in mind, there is heightened interest in Nkunku's impact. The €60 million signing's return to fitness is timely, especially as Chelsea grapples with the loss of several key players. Pochettino revealed that the team would be without Reece James, Robert Sánchez, and Marc Cucurella for the foreseeable future due to injuries, the severity of which remains unclear. In the absence of Sánchez, the 24-year-old Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who made his debut as a substitute against Everton, is expected to step in.
Nkunku's potential debut is seen as a significant boost for Chelsea, a team in need of a spark to improve their attacking efficiency. His proven track record at RB Leipzig, where he was known for his goal-scoring prowess and versatility in attacking positions, has raised hopes among Chelsea fans and management alike. As the team adapts to the absence of James, Sánchez, and Cucurella, Nkunku's performance will be closely watched to see if he can help bridge the gap between Chelsea's high expected goals and their actual scoring rate.
Updated: 02:23, 15 Dec 2023
