Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku has encountered another setback due to injury, according to head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The Frenchman is currently undergoing medical assessment and could potentially be sidelined for up to a month.

Despite his recent appearance in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, Nkunku’s availability for the upcoming FA Cup clash against Leeds is now in doubt.

“We learned yesterday that [Christopher] Nkunku got injured but we don’t know when he got injured. We need to see and evaluate every day but he’s out for three or four weeks. We hope no more. It’s difficult for him,” Pochettino said.

Nkunku joined Chelsea during the summer but has struggled with injuries, limiting his appearances to just ten in all competitions thus far.

Chelsea continues to grapple with a lengthy list of injured players, with hopes pinned on the return of Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella, who are undergoing partial team training for rehabilitation.

However, others like Reece James, Romeo Lavia, and Benoit Badiashile are still in their rehabilitation programs.

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“We watched him when he arrived in pre-season. He was flying on the training pitch until he got injured. Now it is nearly eight months and he has been involved again but it is not the same player as before,” Pochettino, 51, added.

Despite his limited appearances, Nkunku has made notable contributions, including a crucial goal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final and a late consolation goal in a Premier League match against Wolves.

With Chelsea aiming to bounce back from their recent defeat to Liverpool, Nkunku’s absence adds to the team’s challenges as they prepare to face Leeds.