Tuchel reveals Kovacic injury and ‘new target’ for Chelsea strikers’ return

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Chelsea expect Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to return to action after next month’s international break.

But Mateo Kovacic has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Lukaku has been out with an ankle injury and Werner with a hamstring problem.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel has been reluctant to speculate on when the strikers might return – but has suggested that the away match against Leicester on 20 November is now the target.


Tuchel said: “I’m not a friend of deadlines and putting pressure on expectations but I can tell you it’s realistic that both have new targets and that it is after the international break and that is what we are aiming for.”

Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic is being lined up for a return in the match against Burnley a week on Saturday.

Pulisic is finally back in training following an ankle injury but this weekend’s game against Newcastle comes too soon for him.

Tuchel explained: “For Christian Pulisic, we are looking forward to the Burnley match. If everything goes right he should be in the squad for the Burnley game and ready to play.”

Tuchel confirmed that Cesar Azpilicueta, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who have all been nursing minor problems, are available to face Newcastle.

But Kovacic faces “some weeks” out of action, according to Tuchel, after suffering an injury training.