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Glen Johnson has rejected suggestions that Christopher Nkunku should walk into Chelsea’s starting XI when they take on Newcastle United this Saturday.

Nkunku has returned from a long-term injury which he picked up ahead of the 2023-24 season.

The France international was spotted training with some of his Chelsea teammates during the international break, having not been called-up by Didier Deschamps due to his condition.

There are speculations that Nkunku may return for Chelsea against Newcastle this weekend, and probably start the game, but Johnson thinks the attacker must earn his place in the team.

Speaking about the Frenchman in an interview with Squawka, the former Blues right-back said: “Nkunku is going to have to earn the shirt and will have to be patient. He’s been out for a long time and he will have to show the manager why he should start.

“We know he’s a good player and he may well take the shirt back in time, but you can’t just drop a goalscoring striker in form because a player’s come back from injury.”

Many Chelsea fans would surely want to see Nkunku in action this weekend, but we doubt he would be involved, since Pochettino has already shown that he likes to gradually ease his players back into the team when they return from an injury.