{"id":293996,"date":"2023-11-14T06:09:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T06:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=293996"},"modified":"2023-11-14T06:09:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T06:09:21","slug":"chelsea-injury-news-including-nkunku-lavia-chilwell-fofana-latest-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/chelsea-injury-news-including-nkunku-lavia-chilwell-fofana-latest-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea injury news including Nkunku, Lavia, Chilwell, Fofana latest updates"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino will feel that things are finally clicking together after inauspicious start to his tenure at Stamford Bridge following their 4-4 draw with Manchester City on Sunday. The Argentinian declared himself pleased with how his players performed after Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling shone against their former club, but Pochettino still has a number of long-term absentees on his injury list. Express Sport<\/em> has the latest on their injuries and expected return dates for those sidelined.<\/p>\n

Christopher Nkunku<\/h3>\n

Pochettino joked Nkunku lied to him about whether he could return from injury after the international break as the \u00a360million signing prepares to finally make his Chelsea debut. Nkunku is still yet to make his first competitive appearance for the club after injuring his knee just days before the start of the Premier League season.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old underwent minor surgery to ensure the issue does not occur again in the future, but it has kept him out for three months and counting. After resuming full training last week, he should be in contention to make the squad for the trip to Newcastle on November 25.<\/p>\n

“We had some conversation and he [Nkunku] said to me ‘Coach, I want to be ready for after international break for Newcastle’,” Pochettino said in his press conference on Friday. “I asked him yesterday [Thursday] and he said ‘hmmm’, and I said ‘you are a liar!’ He said ‘No I am not!’ He is close and he is doing really well. We are happy with him.”<\/p>\n

READ MORE <\/strong> Chelsea boss Pochettino jokes Nkunku is a ‘liar’ after injury return delayed[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Romeo Lavia<\/h3>\n

In addressing Nkunku’s absence from the squad, Pochettino also hinted Romeo Lavia is on the verge of recovering from an ankle issue that has kept him sidelined since his \u00a358m move from Southampton on deadline day.<\/p>\n

“Romeo is also close. They trained today on the pitch,” he said. “We hope that next week they will be involved with the team, and we will assess day by day to see when they can start to play and help the team.”<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old may have to bide his time for his debut as Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are Pochettino’s settled midfield trio. But he should be in line to return to the squad in December to end the teenager’s long wait for his Chelsea bow.<\/p>\n