Christopher Nkunku will be hoping to mark his return from injury later this season with a piece of silverware.
Christopher Nkunku was delighted to see Chelsea progress into the Carabao Cup fourth round. Nicolas Jackson guided Mauricio Pochettino's side to a 1-0 win over Brighton at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night while the former RB Leipzig star watched on from the stands.
Thiago Silva, Noni Madueke, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Benoit Badiashile and Reece James all joined Nkunku behind the home dugout as they showed their support for their Blues teammates. While they weren't be able to offer their services on the pitch, their support will have been appreciated by the likes of Alfie Gilchrist, Josh Brooking and Alex Matos, who were called up from the academy to feature on the bench.
After the game, Nkunku marked the victory with a celebratory post to his Instagram story with the caption: "Next round [green tick and clapping emoji." Chelsea will now lock horns with Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round on Wednesday, November 1.
While the France international is yet to make his competitive debut for Chelsea since joining earlier this summer, he'll be desperate to get his hands on some silverware upon his return from injury. Nkunku was dealt a blow to his knee during the west Londoner's final pre-season clash against Borussia Dortmund.
The 25-year-old forward has since undergone an operation and he's now stepped up his rehabilitation with Chelsea's medical department. It's believed that Nkunku could still be out for a while yet, handing the Blues a major blow to their hopes of securing a Champions League qualification place this term.
However, if Pochettino manages to stay in the Carabao Cup, the Frenchman could mark his return from the treatment room with a bang. The Carabao Cup quarterfinal is set to be played the week commencing December 18, with the semi-final kicking off in the second week of January.
The final will then be played on Sunday, February 25, 2024. As it stands, it remains to be seen exactly when Nkunku could return from injury. Pochettino will be desperate to have him back in the starting lineup as soon as possible - especially if Chelsea can progress further into the Carabao Cup.
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