27 February 2024 , 16:10
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Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is set to be out for three to four weeks after picking up yet another injury.
The Frenchman has endured a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge since his £52million move from RB Leipzig last summer. After impressing at the start of pre-season, he injured his knee in their final friendly against Borussia Dortmund which forced him to undergo surgery.
Nkunku returned to action in December but made just three appearances before sustaining a hip problem that kept him out for the start of 2024. He scored as a second-half substitute at Liverpool in late January and had featured in each of the last four games before coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
However, the 26-year-old will now miss up to another month after suffering a fresh issue, though Pochettino is unaware of how Nkunku picked up the injury. Speaking ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup tie against Leeds, the Argentine said: "We learned yesterday Nkunku got injured but we don't know when he got injured.
"We need to see and evaluate every day but he's out for three or four weeks. We hope no more. It's difficult for him. We watched him when he arrived in pre-season.
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"He was flying on the training pitch until he got injured. Now it is nearly eight months and he has been involved again but he is not the same player as before. We have in our head the amazing Nkunku from pre-season but it is not the same player because of the circumstances. That's why it is sometimes unfair when we judge."
After losing 1-0 against Liverpool in the final at Wembley on Sunday, Chelsea will be aiming to bounce back and reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the eighth time in nine years.
With the Blues not in Europe and 11th in the Premier League table, the FA Cup is their last chance to win a trophy this season and Pochettino is looking forward to the task in hand.
Christopher Nkunku is set to miss three to four weeks of action (Getty Images)"When you lose a final it’s not easy to recover but I am happy because I think the players are really focused and are moving forward. If you ask the players today, they all want to be involved in the game," he added.
"They are, of course, disappointed because we did not win the Carabao Cup but we need to move on to tomorrow. I am happy because I think they have reacted well and they are ok. We need to keep the spirit up, move on, and be ready for tomorrow. It's another competition, the FA Cup, and we want to go to the end.
"So, we need to be ready because we have in front of us a very good opponent in Leeds who have won in their last nine [Championship] games. They are in a good moment and it will be tough. That is why we need to have confidence and energy."
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