Mauricio Pochettino has provided an update on Levi Colwill and Christopher Nkunku, and explained why the pair won’t feature against Tottenham.
Chelsea will be without an incredible 14 players for tonight’s game with Spurs as the club’s injury crisis continues to spiral out of control.
It means the Chelsea bench will most likely feature a number of kids from the academy, and a chance for some youngsters to make their debuts.
Pochettino explains why Colwill and Nkunku aren’t playing
The Blues issued their injury report yesterday, which showed both Nkunku and Colwill as back in full training, but the Argentine explained the duo won’t be involved at Stamford Bridge.
“They were training”, the Argentine told The Evening Standard.
“Today, normally, we prepare the game for tomorrow. We did some set-pieces, tactical work, and meetings.
“They are nearly there. They are on the line, but they don’t cross the line. We hope they will cross the line for West Ham on Sunday.
“We hope. But still, we need to wait until tomorrow, Friday and Saturday to see if they can cope with the competition. What it means on the website is that they are close and they are nearly capable.”
It’s been a disastrous debut campaign for Nkunku who arrived with great excitement last summer, and after an impressive start in pre season the Frenchman picked up a knee injury which ruled him out for the first four months of the season.
Since then the 26-year-old has only started two Premier League games for the Blues, and picked up a hamstring injury in February which has ruled him out of Chelsea’s last 11 games.
Colwill on the other hand has been sidelined with a toe injury since the start of March, but the 21-year-old has impressed in the Blue’s defence this season, even when played out of position at left back.
The return of the pair will be a boost to Pochettino with Chelsea trying to secure European football for next season, and they will need every player possible available to try and achieve it.
