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Mauricio Pochettino has shared his plans for Chelsea forward, Christopher Nkunku.

Nkunku joined the Blues from RB Leipzig in the summer, but is yet to make his competitive debut due to a long-term injury he suffered ahead of the start of the campaign.

The 26-year-old has since regained full fitness, and was on the bench against Sheffield on Saturday, although he ended up not playing the game.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Newcastle United, Poch said: “The reality is he wasn’t for me a player to be involved after it went 2-0 against Sheffield United. I saw today he was much better than the day before we played against Sheffield United, so maybe it increases the possibility he will be involved. How I saw him today, maybe he can play 20 minutes.

“How I saw him before the game against Sheffield United, in my mind, there was one per cent or two per cent of doubt, that is why I didn’t want to take a risk with him, I need to be 100 per cent. I think it was good for him to be involved with the team, doing the warm-up, that was amazing, but why take a risk when the game was 2-0?

“Now we have Jackson and Broja is fully recovered. I think Nkunku can play as a No9, but he can play as a No10, No7 or a No11, different positions. Also, there was a question mark about where Nkunku would start the season because it’s about what the combinations were going to be.

“During pre-season we were using him in different positions and that was the moment we could assess and analyse. After four or five months out, the combinations are completely different to pre-season because the team evolved and the situation has changed.

“Now it’s about helping him recover his feeling 100 per cent, and then it’s how he can help the team and see in which position and find the different dynamics for him to fit and be decisive. That is what everyone expects.”