Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer hint at Chelsea team news as Christopher Nkunku’s debut looms
Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer hint at Chelsea team news as Christopher Nkunku’s debut looms
Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer have dropped an early team news hint ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Newcastle United. The Blues will welcome the Magpies to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night as either side look progress into the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The duo have posted pre-match graphic previews of the tie to their respective Instagram stories which, historically, suggests that they will be involved in some capacity. Fernandez was omitted from the Chelsea side which cruised to a 2-0 win over Sheffield United at the weekend.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Argentina international will returns to the starting lineup, but one thing for sure is that Christopher Nkunku will be finally making his competitive debut for the west London outfit. The 26-year-old forward, who joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in the summer for around £52million, was dealt a major blow to his knee during a pre-season clash against Borussia Dortmund in the United States.
After being out of action for so long, Nkunku was an unused substitute against the Blades and, as he steps up his rehabilitation, he’ll be hoping for a few minutes against Newcastle. When asked why he didn’t bring the France international on at the weekend, Pochettino replied: “The reality was, he wasn’t a player to be involved after 2-0.
“I didn’t want to take a risk with him. How I see today? I tell you maybe he can play 20 minutes. Before Sheffield United in my mind, I was 1% or 2% of doubt, that is why I did not want to take a risk. That is how I explained it to him. I need to be 100%.
“If I have 1% doubt… It was good for him to feel the warm up and be with the team. That was amazing. Why take a risk when it was 2-0 when I was thinking I don’t know if it was the right moment?”
Then, when asked if it’s been difficult to build his ideal Chelsea team without Nkunku, Pochettino added: “That is what we project. It’s how people think. I think we have Jackson or Broja now. Nkunku can play no. 9 but can play no.10, no.7, no 11.
“Also was a question mark, Nkunku, before we start the season because it’s about the combination. During the pre-season we used in different positions. Now it is a process also, only in the last few weeks after four or five months out, to find the combination.
“It is completely different in pre-season to now because the team has evolved and the situation changed. Now it is about how he feels. His priority is to feel 100% and see in which position or different dynamics, or animations for him to fit and be decisive.”
While Fernandez and Palmer have posted a pre-match previews of the Newcastle fixture to their Instagram stories, it does not necessarily mean they will definitely start, but it usually means that they will be involved in some capacity. Follow our live coverage of the game in our blog HERE from 4pm.