Mauricio Pochettino gives injury update on four Chelsea players ahead of Manchester United clash

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Wednesday evening's clash with Manchester United will come "too soon" for summer signing Christopher Nkunku to make his long-awaited return from injury.

The Frenchman, who joined the club from RB Leipzig for £52million in June, has been sidelined with a serious knee injury since pre-season. He was forced off in the Londoners' 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in the final game of the club's pre-season tour of the United States on August 2.

Having plundered 23 goals and grabbed nine assists for Leipzig last term, Chelsea were confident that Nkunku, who was linked with a move to United before making the switch to Stamford Bridge, would add extra firepower to their attack. However, he is still waiting to make his competitive debut for the club.

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Pochettino recently suggested that the 26-year-old may have returned after the recent November international break, but his wait is still ongoing, meaning he will play no part in the tussle at Old Trafford.

"Tomorrow is still too soon," Pochettino told the media on Tuesday lunchtime. "We hope [Nkunku will be available] soon. It's about assessing injured players day-by-day.

"Sometimes, we become excited when we see players on the pitch, as we want to have them as soon as possible. But we need to be careful and, of course, when he is ready he will be with the squad."

Fellow summer signing Romeo Lavia will also miss the clash with United through injury. Like Nkunku, the midfielder, who joined the club from Southampton in August, has missed