Mauricio Pochettino confirms huge Christopher Nkunku Chelsea injury update

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Christopher Nkunku is available for selection ahead of Chelsea's clash with Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon. The 26-year-old forward, who joined the Blues from RB Leipzig in the summer for around £52million, is still yet to make his Premier League debut after picking up an injury in the summer.

Nkunku was dealt a blow to his knee during a pre-season clash against Borussia Dortmund in the United States and he's been out of action ever since. The France international recently returned to first-team training and, as he steps up his rehabilitation, he'll be hoping for a few minutes against the Blades this weekend.

When asked if Nkunku is available, Pochettino told reporters: "Yes, can be involved. That is very good news. To be involved tomorrow and be in the squad and to feel the competition after the pre-season is good news for us. We need to be calm and quiet so not to put all the pressure on him.

"Now he's going to evolve, know the Premier League. It's a big motivation for us, for the teammates, and the fans to see a player that should be important for us and to be in the squad for the first time."

Sheffield United sit afoot of the Premier League table, but Pochettino expects a 'difficult' game for Chelsea. Pochettino said: "Always it is difficult. You cannot compare games. I know very well Sheffield United and Chris and it is going to be tough.

"They will be aggressive, low block and it has been difficult for us against a low block. Most important is working on our mentality and our way to play, find different solutions and be more solid and consistent.

"Now for tomorrow in the way we are going to approach the game. The signal is I lose my voice as we were shouting a lot. It's in the mind of the squad and the team. We are going to fight and everything that works and to succeed, from our side we are motivated to find a way to perform."

On Friday afternoon, shortly prior to Pochettino's pre-match press conference, the club confirmed that Robert Sanchez and Marc Cucurella will join Reece James in the treatment room at Cobham. When quizzed on Chelsea's growing injury list, Pochettino said: "I think always when you suffer an injury and he (Sanchez) was our No.1 goalkeeper so far, always a player we will miss.

"We have another goalkeeper who is working hard to be ready. Of course, very sad because we are going to lose a player, maybe for a few weeks.

"We need to wait and see perfectly the situation and also with Reece and Marc Cucurella. From the beginning we are being hit with different circumstances. We need to be strong because the competition doesn't stop."