Christopher Nkunku is not having a good time at Chelsea since making the move there in the summer. The former RB Leipzig winger was one of the most exciting prospects at the Bundesliga club and many clubs recognized his prospect. Chelsea decided to bring him in this summer, to boost their attacking options.
However, his start to the season was derailed when he got injured in August itself. Later, he did recover and played a few games, but it looks like Chelsea will miss him again.
Christopher Nkunku injury update
Christopher Nkunku was a surprise absentee from the FA Cup third round victory over Preston, in which Chelsea triumphed with 4 goals. Later, manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed the news that the player had sustained another injury.
The manager confirmed that he was out through injury again and that he has suffered a hip injury, “He wasn’t involved because he suffered after training a problem in his hip. We need to see if he can be ready for the next few games.”
🔵🇫🇷 Pochettino on Nkunku not even on the bench tonight: “He wasn’t involved because he suffered after training a problem in his hip”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 6, 2024
“We need to see if he can be ready for the next few games”. pic.twitter.com/R6YAyGMQfC
While he did not give any specific return date, reports suggest he may be out for the next three weeks, a very problematic scenario for the manager and the club. It seems the €60 million move is not living up to it’s potential.
Nkunku has had problems right from the start, missing five months of action due to a serious knee injury. He made a return last month and played 4 games for them as well. He even scored his first goal in a 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wolves, which was his debut match as well. And just when it looked like Nkunku would be a regular on the team, the hip injury occurred at the wrong time in training.
Christopher Nkunku adds to Chelsea’s current injury list
And it is not just Christopher Nkunku that is on Chelsea’s injury list, which is very big. Recently players Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka made a full return to the squad, but Pochettino confirmed that both will not feature in their next game until their condition is fully fit. Another player is Benoit Badiashile, who has a possibility of becoming fully fit as well, though he may also leave in the January transfer window.
Center back Wesly Fofana is already confirmed to miss the whole season due to a serious knee injury. Captain Reece James has also been suffering injuries for a long time, and is out with a thigh injury until March. Wingback Marc Cucurella is also expected to return alongside him in March.
So both Christopher Nkunku and Roméo Lavia come back from long-term injuries, then get reinjured. Similar things have happened with Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Benoît Badiashile,etc.
— Chelsea Dodgers (@TheBlueDodger) January 7, 2024
What on earth is happening? It's not normal.#CFC pic.twitter.com/osA9fl5yDP
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and midfielder Romeo Lavia are all also expected to return next month, with the latter still not making his debut for the main team yet. Lesley Ugochukwu and Trevoh Chalobah are yet to have any return dates set. All in all, Chelsea have a very extensive list of injured players which has negatively affected their campaign so far.
Chelsea will now prepare for their next game against Middlesbrough in the first leg of the League Cup semi finals on Wednesday.
