Christopher Nkunku injury latest as Chelsea plot Mauricio Pochettino return boost

Mauricio Pochettino's biggest task at Chelsea so far this season has been trying to replace the void left by Christopher Nkunku. Having signed for £52million over the summer, a deal that was agreed as far back as last October, he is yet to make his debut.

The Frenchman arrived as the leader of a new dawn at Stamford Bridge with Pochettino coming in alongside him. After years of failed forwards, expensive transfers gone wrong and even more specifically RB Leipzig and Bundesliga marksmen falling well short in blue, Nkunku promised to change that.

Having finished 12th last year, dropping outside of the Champions League places and all European football, Chelsea should consider themselves fortunate to have been able to sign a player of Nkunku's quality at all. Now, with the player out until at least November but more likely December and potentially into 2024 before he comes close to finding any form of match sharpness, Pochettino has been left high and dry.

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Nkunku was the fulcrum of his team in pre-season, operating across the attack in a 4-2-3-1 shape. The 25-year-old scored on his non-competitive debut from a standard No.10 position but later moved around to the left side, creating room for Carney Chukwuemeka centrally.

Nkunku's replacement is also out for at least another three weeks though and has left Conor Gallahgher and Enzo Fernandez to feature in slightly uncomfortable roles moving forward behind Nicolas Jackson.It has also left the attack unbalanced with Ben Chilwell occupying a left-wing role to accomodate for Nkunku's absence. This