Report: Chelsea will not rush 25-year-old injured attacker back to action

Chelsea medical staff are unwilling to rush Christopher Nkunku back into action

As per the Mirror, Chelsea are set to take precautions with their star forward Christopher Nkunku as the forward near full fitness before the Newcastle United game after the international break. Given that the Frenchman has been out for a while, it makes sense that the club will not rush him back before he is ready.

The 25-year-old was forced to undergo knee surgery after suffering a meniscus injury in the 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund during the 2023 summer pre-season. It was a poor blow for the club who went big to land the attacker.

It is understood that the former RB Leipzig player was supposed to return after the November international break, but Chelsea don’t want to rush the forward into any matches. In the long term, this could prove to be a wise decision.

The forward is back in grass training and feels fully fit to make a cameo against the Magpies. But the West London club medical staff wants to not take a risk and take care of his fitness delicately and correctly, as Nkunku has yet to feature in a competitive match for Chelsea since sealing his £52 million transfer from RB Leipzig.

It is thought that Chelsea are set to wait until December to allow Nkunku to make his return to action with Chelsea, which will face Brighton, Manchester United, and Everton in the space of a week. Given that he is also lacking in match fitness, it makes sense to ensure Nkunku is in a position to make a difference.

With games coming thick and fast, it is imperative that we rotate players right and also understand their physical limitations. Nkunku is a long-term solution to our attacking woes and instant gratification should not blind us to the role he can play in Blue for years to come.

Our most valuable player, Nkunku, already experienced a knee injury during his time at Leipzig the previous season. Since knee injuries are extremely delicate and don’t heal fully, we must take extra care while dealing with Nkunku. We witnessed what occurred to Reece James when he had a knee injury and continued to experience setbacks over the season.

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We should prioritise Nkunku’s fitness, and we should give him the go-ahead when the club determines he is prepared and won’t relapse. The very least we can do is ensure that our best players are in the best possible physical condition to make a difference on the field.