Chelsea striker Christopher N’Kunku (25-France) is finally set to make his debut. He was highly touted when he joined Chelsea last summer, but after being sidelined with a knee injury in preseason, he returned to action last month after a three-month absence and is reportedly ready to go. Nkunkwo is expected to start if Mauricio Pochettino (51-Argentina) makes a decision.
“Nkunkwo, who was sidelined with a knee injury in pre-season shortly after his move to Chelsea last summer, could make his debut,” the Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Football London and other British media outlets reported on Sunday, adding, “Nkunkwo was seen taking part in team training on Friday. He is likely to feature against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.” 캡틴토토 도메인
Nkunkwo previously suffered an unexpected “injury setback” just before the start of the English Premier League (EPL) in August. He started a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Soldier Field in Chicago, USA, before going down in the 22nd minute after a rough tackle. He was subsequently scanned and found to have a torn meniscus in his left knee, which landed him on the operating table.
No specific return date was initially given, but local reports suggested that Nkunkwo would have to wait until at least the end of the year to return to the field. Depending on the speed of his recovery, it was possible that his return could be delayed even further. The extent of the injury was more severe than expected, and the surgery was expected to keep him out for an extended period of time.
However, Nkunkwo’s recovery was quicker than expected and his return was accelerated. He returned to action at the end of last month and has been working on his fitness through individual training, improving his conditioning at the same time, and has recently joined the team in full training. Naturally, there is now speculation that Nkunkwo could be available for the Brighton game.
Of course, it’s still unclear if Pochettino will start Nkunku. It would be a mistake to push him too hard when he’s only just returned from injury, as it could lead to a recurrence or worse. Pundits are also split down the middle on whether Nkunkwo will make his debut this weekend or if it will be delayed. In the end, it will come down to Pochettino’s final decision.
If Nkunkwo does return, it will naturally be a huge boost for Chelsea, who have fallen on hard times this season as they have suffered from a blunt end of the window. Not only is he regarded as an excellent goalscorer, but he also has the versatility to play a number of different roles tactically, including as a second striker and a false nine. In fact, he was the top scorer (16 goals) in the German Bundesliga last season.
According to the Evening Standard, “Chelsea have struggled with a lack of goals this season. Pochettino has been forced to use Raheem Sterling, 28, and Cole Palmer, 21-plus England, as fake strikers to get by, but Nkunkwo’s return from injury has relieved a major problem. The return of Nkunkwo will give Chelsea a huge boost.”
Nkunkwo, meanwhile, donned the Chelsea shirt in June. He officially joined the Blues last summer after confirming his move early last year by signing a contract. He signed a five-year contract until 2028. The transfer fee was around £61 million. According to football club financial statistics outlet Capology, he earns a weekly wage of £195,000 (about $318 million).
