4 months ago
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Christopher Nkunku has endured a frustrating stop-start first season at Chelsea - but it could be about to become a whole lot worse.
The Frenchman was heralded as the focal point of Mauricio Pochettino's attack upon his arrival but he has been plagued with injuries.
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Chelsea splashed out £52million to sign Nkunku from RB Leipzig, but a knee injury sustained in a pre-season friendly in August meant fans had to wait months for his competitive debut.
Nkunku came off the bench on his debut in English football to score for the Blues in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves on Christmas Eve.
However, just six days later, the 25-year-old suffered a hip injury in the 3-2 win away to Luton that sidelined him for another month.
He again found the net upon his return to the pitch by scoring a skillfully-taken consolation in a 4-1 defeat away to Liverpool.
The strike meant Nkunku has scored two goals in five Premier League appearances for Chelsea and has ended on the losing side in both.
The only other player in Blues history to score in more than one Premier League game for the club and lose both was Laurent Charvet.
Nkunku's French compatriot managed two goals in 11 Premier League appearances during a short-term loan at Stamford Bridge in 1998.
Charvet - who later played for Newcastle and Manchester City - scored in a 2-1 defeat to West Ham and a 3-1 loss away to Leeds.
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Nkunku will make the unwanted record his own should his next Premier League goal come in a defeat.
Thankfully for the 26-year-old, Chelsea's next game is away to Crystal Palace, live and exclusive on talkSPORT, on Monday.
Chelsea have won their last 12 Premier League games against the Eagles although they’ve never won 13 in a row against an opponent in their league history.
They may do if Pochettino gives someone else the nod up top...
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: talkSPORT coverage
This Premier League clash will take place on Monday, February 12.
Kick-off at Selhurst Park is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage of the match, with Adrian Durham serving as your host.
Commentary will then come from Sam Matterface and former England midfielder Danny Murphy.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
