Christopher Nkunku latest: Source names game attacker could return for

We have our first timetable for a return for Christopher Nkunku after the attacker dropped out of the squad with a new injury shortly after making his competitive debut.

The Frenchman lasted just one start and a handful of appearances off the bench before hurting his hip, and we’ve had some seriously mixed messages in the time since then about how severe the problem is.

But Nizaar Kinsella’s piece in the Evening Standard today claims that the ten day break between games that we’re now in the middle of should be enough for Nkunku to use to recover. Our next game is the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi final at home against Middlesbrough, where we need to overturn a 1-0 deficit. That’s an ideal moment for our centrepiece attacking player to return.

It would mean Nkunku missing almost a month with this latest issue, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team made it through that spell with some decent results.