"He might be thinking ‘I’ve got to get out the door'" - Glenn Hoddle names 'clinical' Chelsea star who could leave in January
Glenn Hoddle believes Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku could ask for an exit in January if he doesn't get more game time. The Englishman has lavished praise on the 26-year-old forward, hailing his finishing.
Nkunku has been in great goalscoring form this season, netting eight times in all competitions. The France international is the club's top goalscorer so far this term but has struggled to break into Maresca's starting lineup.
He has started just one of his eight Premier League appearances. Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson has been Maresca's preferred man up front, with the Senegalese striker starting all of his side's league fixtures this term.
Glenn Hoddle believes Nkunku would be more clinical in the league than Jackson if he were given more minutes on the pitch. The former Tottenham Hotspur manager said on TNT Sports (via football.london):
"He knows he’s not at his sharpest yet. I would say, looking at the moment, at the chances that Jackson has had in the season, I think Nkunku would be more clinical."
"If he had the same amount of time on the pitch and was put in with some of the one-on-ones that I’ve seen, I think he would be far more clinical. Jackson is coming into some good play and he’s getting more and more confident, but all the managers have stuck with him."
"I was thinking they were going to pull him out of the team and put somebody else in. But they’ve stuck with him and given him time on the pitch and he’s actually starting to score."
"I think he’s more clinical [Nkunku] but whether he’s going to be happy [playing second fiddle], he might be the one that I’m talking about who in Christmas or January, if they’re not getting enough football, he might be thinking ‘I’ve got to get out the door.’"
Chelsea will next face Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday (October 27).
Enzo Maresca speaks on competition between Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku for Chelsea's starting role
Enzo Maresca has addressed the battle between Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku for a spot in Chelsea's starting XI.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Newcastle United game, Maresca first spoke about Jackson. He heaped praise on the Senegal international, who's racked up five goals and three assists in eight league starts.
Maresca said (via The Standard):
"We know very well that he is important for us. On the ball he is working fantastic - he's scoring goals, he's assisting, he's linking with his team-mates; off the ball he is working hard, he's pressing the way we want to press and he's doing fantastic with us.”
The Chelsea boss added on Christopher Nkunku's role, stating that the Frenchman will see more game time this season.
"We also have Christopher [Nkunku] there. He's going to help us because the season is very long. We have so many games and also sometimes the game plan can be different, it can be more for Christopher than Nico. We also have young talent so we can choose."
The Blues are seventh in the league, dropping down the table after their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last weekend. Chelsea are three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.