Nkunku, Lavia, Fernandez - Latest Chelsea injury news and return dates for Man City

It says quite a lot about the predicament that Mauricio Pochettino has found himself in at Chelsea that having just six names on the club's injury list is seen as a positive sign. Whilst Arsenal and Tottenham both struggle with their own knocks and Newcastle are hit by a mass fitness plague, the Blues are on the way back.

Although there are still four players yet to make a single appearance for Pochettino and his men this term it is two returning stars that look set to change things the most. Ahead of welcoming Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side though it is very much a case of the same group being available.

City themselves have some big problems to overcome but are heading into this game off the back of beating Bournemouth 6-1 last weekend as well as comfortably winning in the Champions League. That is what Pochettino is up against on Sunday but the medium-term promise for his squad does look better than it did a month ago.

Here, football.london has the latest from the Chelsea treatment room.

Nkunku is still yet to play a competitive game for Chelsea following his transfer from RB Leipzig in the summer. The 25-year-old was dealt a major blow to his knee during a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund.

He has taken his recovery programme to the next level and, for the very first time since the summer, Nkunku has been spotted outside on the training pitches at Cobham in his Chelsea gear. Pochettino has also revealed that the Frenchman is targeting an ambitious return soon after the international break.

Mauricio Pochettino gets unexpected triple Chelsea boost for Man City amid Nkunku injury message

Latest Chelsea injury news as eight miss Man City with Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia hint

What Pochettino has said: