{"id":298262,"date":"2023-12-16T06:39:23","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T06:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298262"},"modified":"2023-12-16T06:39:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T06:39:23","slug":"christopher-nkunku-could-make-blues-debut-vs-sheffield-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/christopher-nkunku-could-make-blues-debut-vs-sheffield-united\/","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Nkunku could make Blues debut vs Sheffield United"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pochettino reviews Chelsea's defeat at Everton<\/h3>\n

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that French forward Christopher Nkunku is available to play against Sheffield United on Saturday as the Blues look to bounce back from a 2-0 loss away from home to Everton.\u00a0Nkunku moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer for\u00a0\u00a352million from RB Leipzig but suffered a knee injury during pre-season that has kept him out of action for the last four months. His return will be a big boost for the west Londoners, who have been plagued by injuries in recent weeks. But will the Frenchman start? Here, Express Sport provides our predicted XI for Saturday’s game.<\/p>\n

Goalkeeper –\u00a0Petrovic\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Djordje Petrovic is expected to be given his first start between the sticks in Robert Sanchez’s absence. The Spaniard was forced off against Everton last week with a knee injury and is set to be on the sidelines for the entire festive period.<\/p>\n

Petrovic made his debut for the west Londoners during the match after coming on for Sanchez. He joined Chelsea in the summer from New England Revolution for \u00a314million and is a relatively unknown quantity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Defenders –\u00a0Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Colwill<\/h3>\n

Reece James also picked up an injury during the Toffees game and will once again spend a lengthy spell out of action. Malo Gusto is nailed on to replace him at right-back for the second time this season.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In terms of centre-backs, only Wesley Fofana is ruled out of the game meaning Pochettino will have a difficult job on his hands picking his central pairing. Levi Colwill is needed at left-back with\u00a0Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell both out injured so the Argentine will have to pick between Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile. Pochettino will likely opt to go with the latter two as Silva has been shaky as of late.<\/p>\n

Midfielders –\u00a0Gallagher, Caicedo, Fernandez<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pochettino will probably stick with his usual midfield trio of Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo despite being outplayed in the centre of the park at Goodison Park last weekend. The Blues boss admitted that Fernandez and Caicedo’s partnership ‘needs some work’ and the only way to do that is by playing them together.<\/p>\n

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