Mauricio Pochettino says £52m Chelsea player could make his debut against Newcastle tonight

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Maurico Pochettino has now suggested that one of Chelsea’s big money summer signings could make his debut tonight against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.

While Newcastle have been dealing with more key injuries, their opponents tonight look to be getting some good news with the return of Christopher Nkunku who is yet to play a single minute for Chelsea.

Pochettino announced in his press conference yesterday that Nkunku has been improving every day and that he is finally ready for some first-team action.

Pochettino says Nkunku can have an impact tonight

Both Chelsea and Newcastle have had their injury problems this season and are desperate to get their players fit and healthy ahead of the new year.

Joelinton and Fabian Schar were big losses against Fulham and have now been ruled out of the game against Chelsea, but opposingly the Blues may finally have one of their key men back.

Nkunku was signed in the summer for £52m with the intention of him being Chelsea’s new star man up front, but a knee injury in pre-season meant that he has missed the first four months of this campaign.

The Frenchman was on the bench for Chelsea against Sheffield United at the weekend, though Pochettino didn’t feel it was the right time for him to make his return and instead could play against Newcastle.

In his press conference, Pochettino said: “If tomorrow I think because I am seeing much better than the day before, it increases the possibility for him to be involved.

“I can tell you he can play 20 minutes.”

Chelsea and Newcastle are desperate for a trophy

While one club has won everything there is to win in football in the last two decades and the other is without a domestic trophy since 1955, both teams are desperate to win tonight for different reasons.

There’s no real pressure on Eddie Howe to win a trophy this season or perhaps even next season, though it’s certainly the aim and a big part of the long-term plan, but it would be incredible to finally put that 68-year long wait to bed.

For Pochettino, however, a win against Newcastle gives him a good chance of winning his first trophy in England and easing the pressure off of him from those at the top as Chelsea’s Premier League struggles continue.