Mauricio Pochettino anticipates the inclusion of Noni Madueke in Chelsea’s lineup for their clash against West Ham United this Sunday.
The 21-year-old winger missed out on pre-season action with the Blues due to his delayed return after England Under-21s clinched the European Championship title.
Although Madueke was named on the substitutes’ bench during the recent 1-1 draw with Liverpool, he remained unused, despite Pochettino’s side pushing for a victory at Stamford Bridge.
However, this cautious approach stemmed from Madueke’s minor hamstring discomfort rather than reluctance.
Having been acquired from PSV Eindhoven for approximately £35 million in the January transfer window, the young talent had been nursing a slight hamstring issue.
Pochettino confirmed Madueke’s improved condition and expressed his anticipation for the player’s involvement in the forthcoming West Ham encounter.
Responding to an inquiry about Madueke, Pochettino stated, “He’s much better. He would have been involved against Liverpool but it was too early.
He was training really well during the week and he is going to be involved in the game against West Ham.”
In Chelsea’s initial Premier League fixture against Liverpool, Raheem Sterling was positioned as the right-winger.
Although the English international exhibited glimpses of his skill against his former club, his impact remained limited compared to his aspirations.
During an interview with the club’s media team in June, Madueke outlined his objectives for the season.
The Chelsea attacker articulated his ambition to ascend to prominence within his position in the Premier League, while also contributing to the team’s recovery following a challenging 2022/23 campaign.
Reflecting on his recent journey, Madueke said, “It’s been a great few months of learning for me with some successes too, on an individual note.
Everyone has huge aspirations, individually and collectively, but I feel like the process we’re in right now is just about getting a little bit better every day, getting better every game, and growing closer.
It’s for the future – we are trying to build the foundations now for a successful club and team.”
Furthermore, he shared his objectives for the upcoming season, stating, “Next season for me is just about becoming one of the top players in my position in the league and contributing to wins with goals and assists and helping my teammates. That’s my aim.”
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