Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that a number of his key players are about to make their returns from injury.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The boss has had to deal with an immense amount of injury concerns throughout this campaign, with this no doubt having an effect on his ability to name a side to win every single week.
A number of their summer additions have hardly been able to feature so far this season, with Christopher Nkunku only making a handful of appearances since joining.
Considering the France international was brought in to revolutionise their attack, this has been a massive blow to their goalscoring abilities.
Defence has been another position where injuries have played a big part this season. Wesley Fofana has been absent for the entire campaign up to now.
Another player who has been missing for multiple games is Levi Colwill, with him missing some big affairs in the backend of the season.
Pochettino has now stated that alongside Nkunku, Colwill is closing in on a return, and could be back this weekend against West Ham.
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
He said: “We were preparing for the game for tomorrow, doing some set-pieces, tactical work, meetings, and they are nearly there. They are on the line but they have still not crossed the line.”
“Maybe for Sunday against West Ham, we hope [Colwill and Nkunku] will be ready. But still, we will wait for tomorrow and then Friday before we decide if they can cope with the competition. I think they are so close to being available.”
Pochettino is dealing with the here and now though, and has the task of picking up a big three points tonight against Tottenham.
He will struggle to name a starting XI that completely exists of first team players, after he saw more players added to the injury list after the draw against Aston Villa.
He confirmed in the pre-match press conference that both Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva were going to be unavailable, leaving him a real headache over who to pick at the back at Stamford Bridge tonight.
Germany football legend, Rudi Völler, has listed Super Eagles’ Victor Boniface as one of the outstanding players in the country this season.
According to him, Xabi Alonso has been able to build a very strong squad with the likes of Boniface at the club.
Bayer Leverkusen have already won the Bundesliga title this season, which is the first in their history.
They could go on to claim a historic treble, having qualified for the final of the DFB-Pokal and the semifinals of the Europa League.
Boniface, Nathan Tella, Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, Arthur, Matej Kovar and Alejandro Grimaldo all joined the club last summer.
“Simon Rolfes, Fernando Carro and Xabi Alonso have put together a great squad and created a tactic that makes them seem invincible,” he said, according to Spox.com.
“Granit Xhaka on the six, defending, Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro on the wings Grimaldo, they have Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick at the front.
“Everything works, including in the other positions. And then Florian is a player who is already one of the top players in world football.
“He is technically outstanding and runs a lot dangerous. The boy has everything.”
Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, has reflected on his experience of playing against Manchester United at the Old Trafford.
Uzoho put up a remarkable performance in Omonia Nicosia’s UEFA Europa League clash against Manchester United at the ground two years ago.
The shot stopper made 12 saves during the game with United scoring a late winner through Scott McTominay.
The 25-year-old took pride in his performance against the Red Devils.
“I was disappointed with the result because we had a great game, but we would have preferred to get at least a point,” Uzoho BT Sports.
“But I’m happy, it’s not an easy stadium to play in with these big players.”