Christopher Nkunku Chelsea injury timeline explained as Mauricio Pochettino lifts lid on absence

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino hopes that Christopher Nkunku will still be able to play a part for his team before the end of the season, although the forward is not yet training with the squad.

The summer signing has been out of action since the League Cup final loss against Liverpool back in February. The injury has seen him miss the last five games in all competitions.

Back at the start of last month, Pochettino confirmed that Nkunku had suffered a hamstring injury which would be assessed in 'a few weeks.' Just over a month on, theChelsea boss has given a further update in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game vs Manchester United.

“At the moment we don’t know when it’s possible to train with the team, at the moment he is not training with us,” he told football.london. “His recovery is longer than we expected.

“It was after the final where he played 30 or 40 minutes, there was a problem and we didn’t know we found out after the game.

“This type of circumstance, it affects overall the things because it’s not only him but too many players this season. But I hope that he can be involved again quickly, as soon as possible in the dynamic of the team and of course if he should be really really good before the end of the season then we can come with him and he can be part of the team, I hope that that happens.”

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Since joining from RB Leipzig in the summer, the 26-year-old has seen his first season with Chelsea blighted by injury. He has made ten appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring twice.

If Chelsea are able to welcome Nkunku back before the end of the