Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku's frustrating start to life at Stamford Bridge continues, as the Frenchman has again been ruled out by injury for up to a month.
Signed from RB Leipzig for £52m in the summer, Nkunku has only mustered nine appearances this season for the Blues, primarily due to a serious knee injury he picked up last August and a further hip injury sustained in the New Year.
The 26-year-old Frenchman came off the bench in Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley, but was unable to make an impact as the Londoners slipped to an extra-time defeat inflicted by a late winner from Reds defender Virgil van Dijk.
Ahead of their FA Cup fifth round clash against Leeds United on Wednesday, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Nkunku will again have to watch from the sidelines for a lengthy spell.
"We need to see and evaluate every day but he's out for three or four weeks,” the Argentine confirmed. “We hope no more.
“It’s difficult for him. We watched him when he arrived in pre-season. He was flying on the training pitch until he got injured. Now it is nearly eight months and he has been involved again but it 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."
