Mauricio Pochettino reveals 'doubt' over Chelsea star's fitness ahead of Newcastle United clash

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is keen to protect £52million summer signing Christopher Nkunku ahead of his potential debut against Newcastle United on Wednesday (kick-off 8pm).

The Frenchman moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer from RB Leipzig but is yet to make a competitive appearance after undergoing surgery on a knee injury sustained in pre-season.

Nkunku was named on the bench for Saturday afternoon's 2-0 victory over Sheffield United, though wasn't risked as Pochettino revealed he was "one or two per-cent in doubt" over the striker's fitness.

The Blues manager played down talk that the 26-year-old is ready to start against the Magpies but did admit the possibility of a 20 minute cameo.

Pochettino said: "Christopher was involved last game and is going to be involved. He is training well. Maybe he will be involved in some minutes of the game. I did not want to take a risk with him. How I do see him today? I can tell you maybe he can play 20 minutes.

"How I saw him before the game against Sheffield United, in my mind I was one or two per-cent in doubt, that is why I didn't want to take a risk.

"I explained that to him because I need to be 100 per-cent. I think it was good for him to feel the warm up with the team but why take a risk when we the game is 2-0? Because one per-cent of my mind was thinking 'I don't know if it is the right moment for him to play'."

Chelsea and Newcastle have met already this campaign as Eddie Howe's men ran out 4-1 winner at St James' Park following goals from Alexander Isak, Jamaal Lascelles, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon.

A place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals is up for grabs with the Magpies hoping to seal their first win at Stamford Bridge since 2012 when a Papiss Cisse brace secured a 2-1 win.

"For Newcastle also, it is an important competition but for us at the start of the season was one of our objectives," Pochettino added. "It is going to be an important game, we want to go through but we know we face a Champions League team. It's going to be tough."