Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Soldier Field.
The Frenchman is nearing his return to full fitness (Picture: Getty)

William Gallas has urged Chelsea to be patient with summer signing Christopher Nkunku as he nears his long-awaited return from injury.

Nkunku played a prominent role in the Blues’ pre-season campaign before picking up a serious knee injury on the eve of the Premier League’s opening games.

The Frenchman, who joined from German side RB Leipzig in a deal worth £52m, has been working hard behind the scenes on his rehab and is now nearing full fitness.

Fans are desperate to see Nkunku in action following his impressive stint at Leipzig, where he registered 70 goals and 56 assists across 172 games.

Gallas has backed the 25-year-old to be a success at Stamford Bridge but has urged the club to not rush his return and risk a longer-term injury.

‘Everyone needs to be patient with Christopher Nkunku,’ the former Chelsea centre-back told Genting Casino. ‘We need to wait until he is completely ready to play before he can start to have an impact for Chelsea because he has been injured for such a long time.

‘When you’re out for four months, you need to manage your fitness very carefully. I think that Nkunku is a great player and he will bring a lot of quality to this Chelsea team.

Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea reacts during a Chelsea FC Training Session at Chelsea Training Ground on November 22, 2023.
Nkunku has been pictured back in first-team training (Picture: Getty)

‘He will bring a different attacking option to Pochettino, but we shouldn’t expect him to be the main man straight away.

‘He will need to be managed perfectly after being out for such a long time. The intensity of the games in the Premier League is so high, so it would be a massive risk if he came back too quickly.

‘Don’t push him too much. When he is ready, he can make the difference for Chelsea.’

Nkunku could be in line for his maiden league appearance for Chelsea when they travel to face Newcastle on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side sit four points behind the Magpies and a further six off the top four, but could extend their unbeaten streak to three league games after impressive performances against Tottenham and Manchester City before the international break.

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