Christopher Nkunku's Chelsea return will steal the headlines - but £58m Romeo Lavia will be equally transformative for Mauricio Pochettino's Blues
The focus is on the Frenchman as the pair near a return from injury, but Chelsea's forgotten man can be just as crucial to their success
Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia have endured false starts to their respective Chelsea careers, both struck down by serious injuries before making their competitive debuts in a crushing blow to Mauricio Pochettino's hopes and plans. Their recoveries have followed a similar trajectory in the months since and, coincidentally, they seem destined to make their long-awaited debuts around the same time.
There has been a disparity, though, in the anticipation surrounding each player's comeback; unsurprisingly, Bundesliga goal and assist machine Nkunku's imminent return to fitness has generated plenty of excitement among a fanbase that has been starved of attacking productivity in recent seasons, but Lavia has become something of a forgotten man.
That isn't helped by the fact that the 19-year-old is yet to even pull on the Blue shirt, but now he is finally on the cusp of making his bow, the £58 million ($74m) man will be determined to remind everyone of what he is all about.
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