Christopher Nkunku injury blow the price Chelsea pay for unwanted Mauricio Pochettino decision

Christopher Nkunku will not start this evening’s FA Cup third round meeting between Chelsea and Preston North End with the 26-year-old suffering a slight injury in the week

There really has been a curse going around Cobham this season. Every time Chelsea look to be getting a close-to fully fit squad back together, another one bites the dust.

This time it is Christopher Nkunku. And while it does not seem serious – fingers crossed – judging by Mauricio Pochettino’s comments on Friday afternoon, it really is an ‘oh, not again’ moment for Chelsea supporters.

“I am going to tell you Christoph [Nkunku] is not going to start tomorrow because he suffered some issues during the week but he is going to be in the squad,” the Chelsea head coach told reporters on Friday afternoon. “We need to be careful with him like I told you. Six months where he didn’t compete and when he starts to compete it’s not the same.”

Nkunku has only played 152 minutes since returning from a lengthy injury lay-off, but even that, perhaps, is more than Pochettino would have ideally liked. The Argentine consistently warned supporters that they would need to be patient with Nkunku. Not only would he not be at his absolute best for some time, but his introduction into the side would be slow.

However, after needing a goal against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final last month, Pochettino’s hand was somewhat forced. He brought Nkunku onto the pitch with 20 minutes to go and that gave everyone around Stamford Bridge a huge boost. Needless to say the Blues went onto progress into the final four of the competition.

Likewise, with Chelsea 2-0 down away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve, five days after Nkunku made his debut for the club, he was brought on with the side desperate for a goal at Molineux. The France international did provide one – to date his only goal for the club – but was not able to earn the visitors a point in the west Midlands.