OPINION Nkunku recovers and Badiashile returns

The international break is well underway and Chelsea's stars have flown around the world to compete for their national sides. Mauricio Pochettino has fewer numbers to work with in the build up to the Blues' trip to Newcastle United nine days times, as he looks to build on the momentum garnered from defeating Tottenham and drawing with Manchester United.



The pause in Premier League football affords Pochettino time to work with some players who have scarcely seen Cobham's training pitches in the opening months of the season. For example, there is hope that Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia could soon be in contention to feature domestically.

Pochettino explained: "I had a conversation with Christopher and he said to me he wanted to be involved after the international break, against Newcastle. I asked yesterday and he wasn’t as sure, so I told him he is a liar! In a good way, though. I think he’s close and he is doing really well.