Chelsea receive key injury boost as £52m star sets comeback date for Newcastle clash

Slowly but surely, Chelsea are beginning to show signs of improvement on the pitch under new boss Mauricio Pochettino. This was highlighted in their recent 4-1 triumph away to high-flying Tottenham with new signings Cole Palmer and hat-trick hero Nicolas Jackson getting on the scoresheet.

The victory takes the Blues back into the top half of the table, which is a refreshing sight for Chelsea fans given their struggles over the past few months.

Chelsea’s team is beginning to show signs of gelling into a more complete outfit after a flurry of summer signings. One of their biggest criticisms, early in the season, has not just been their style of play, but their inability to break down teams in the final third - most notably in losses to Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Aston Villa.

However, one striker who could act as the solution to these early season problems is the highly-rated French star Christopher Nkunku.

The player has been the subject of great excitement from Chelsea since way back in January, when they agreed a deal in principle to bring the RB Leipzig attacker to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The 25-year-old hit over 15 goals in both of his last two seasons in Germany and has starred in the Champions League with 10 goals in his last 13 appearances in the competition.

Nkunku is a 10-time French international, last season's top scorer in Germany and the league’s Player of the Season a year before that, but Chelsea fans are yet to see their £52m man in action due to a serious knee injury that was sustained in pre-season. 

Many Chelsea fans are hopeful that Nkunku will be the man them climb back into Europe and fans now have an estimated return date for the striker, who is recovering ahead of schedule.

https://twitter.com/jacobsben/status/1722274266518102419?s=46&t=9ykTDsH1OhuNakj26SKAXQ

Sports journalist Ben Jacobs claims Nkunku has begun his rehabilitation on the exercise bike and adds that he is likely to return to the field after the international break in a crucial away match against Newcastle.

Jacobs tweeted: “Chelsea confirm Christopher Nkunku is upping his recovery. He’s back on the bike and is expected back after the international break. Mauricio Pochettino has previously said he’s making fast progress and termed a return to the squad against Newcastle on November 25 as a “maybe”.

The news comes as a blow to Newcastle who also face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 19 December in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.