Why Christopher Nkunku didn't make his Chelsea debut against Sheffield United

One day shy of a year since Chelsea unofficially completed the signing of Christopher Nkunku, the Frenchman made his first Premier League matchday squad.

The Blues finally rubber-stamped the £52m deal to bring Nkunku from RB Leipzig to west London in June but a serious knee injury in Chelsea's final pre-season game has sidelined the 26-year-old since.

However, a ripple of excitement cascaded around the fans streaming into Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. It had been confirmed that Nkunku was among the substitutes for the visit of Sheffield United.

Mauricio Pochettino could have injected a bit of fizz into a drab 2-0 victory for the hosts by handing Nkunku his first minutes of the season but the Frenchman was left on the bench.

Here's why Pochettino didn't call upon a forward he has been desperate to use all season.

Why didn't Christopher Nkunku make his Chelsea debut against Sheffield United?

Nkunku is hardly the only absentee on Chelsea's lengthy injury list but Pochettino rarely goes through a press conference without being quizzed on the status of last season's Bundesliga top scorer.

The Frenchman's return has been "close" for months but finally seemed to be imminent this weekend. Ahead of the visit from Sheffield United, Pochettino revealed Nkunku would be included in the squad. However, the Chelsea boss also warned: "It's very good news for us and it's time to be calm and quiet because we don't want to put the pressure on him."

After the match, Pochettino explained why he left arguably Chelsea's only clinical finisher on the bench. "We didn’t want to take a risk with him and give him more time for his recovery," the Argentine revealed.

Nkunku damaged the meniscus in his left knee and underwent surgery in August. After six months since his last competitive appearance - a five-minute cameo for France in Euro 2024 qualifying - no wonder Chelsea are being cautious.

When could Christopher Nkunku make his Chelsea debut?

The festive fixture list may be furious but it ensures Nkunku won't have to wait long for another chance to make his eagerly anticipated debut.

Chelsea welcome Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge for a Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night. In past positions, Pochettino has rotated heavily in cup competitions but, with Chelsea not involved in Europe and already out of the Premier League title race, the League Cup has taken on even greater importance.

If Pochettino opts against sending Nkunku out against a Newcastle side that dismantled Chelsea 4-1 last month, he could save the Frenchman's debut for the unwanted trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve.

Chelsea Supporters' Trust condemned the scheduling as "unacceptable" and Pochettino agreed: "I'm not happy," he sulked when the calendar was confirmed. However, the sight of Nkunku lining in blue for the first time may make the inconvenient timing a little easier to take.

Chelsea's upcoming fixtures

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