Mauricio Pochettino has said Chelsea will not take risks with the fitness of Christopher Nkunku as the forward is eased back into the squad.
Nkunku came off the bench to score against Brighton in midweek as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem.
The £52m signing has made just two starts in the Premier League since arriving from RB Leipzig last summer, after sustaining a serious knee injury in pre-season before his absence with a hamstring issue.
The 26-year-old is pushing for a place in the starting side as Chelsea concluded their campaign at home to Bournemouth this weekend, though Pochettino has insisted there will be no unnecessary risks taken with the Frenchman.
“He [Christopher Nkunku] played more than we expected because of Mykhailo Mudryk [following concussion protocols],” Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference on Nkunku’s involvement against Brighton.
“I think tomorrow we will assess him to see if he can start. It will be difficult to play 90 minutes. We need not to take risks. With the performance and medical staff, we will make the best decision for him.”
Chelsea will seal a place in the Premier League’s top six and entrance to European competition next season with if the Blues avoid defeat against Bournemouth.
Pochettino said competing in Europe is ‘really important’ to his inexperienced team, who have improved in recent weeks and are on a run of four consecutive Premier League wins.
“It’s really important to finish in the way that we are doing now and I think with confidence and way we were playing in last few months.
“It is really important for team, for the players, for the club to be close to achieving one of our objectives – to play in Europe next season.
“I think the most important now is continuing to perform try to be sure we are going to compete in best way. It’s going to be a really tough game because Bournemouth are doing so well. Andoni Iraola is doing a good job but most important [for us] is to finish well and see if we have the chance to get the place [in Europe].”
