Chelsea’s flawless Premier League comeback includes the return of three key players, a challenge from Nicolas Jackson, and a win over Bournemouth.
Chelsea is less than a week away from returning to Premier League action following the international break, with the team set to face AFC Bournemouth on the south coast.
The Blues have recorded just four points in their first four matches of the season, with two defeats to West Ham United and one at home to Nottingham Forest.
However, the next four league matches are very winnable for the Blues, and they need to start building momentum now.
Nicolas Jackson, a £30m signing, has had an impressive start to life at Chelsea, having arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window after the Blues triggered the £30m release clause in his contract with Spanish outfit Villarreal.
After an impressive pre-season as Chelsea’s No.9, Jackson has been thrown straight into the deep end by head coach Pochettino. Despite only scoring one competitive goal for the Blues thus far, he has impressed while leading the line.
In the four Premier League matches, Jackson has attempted 15 shots, with five of them being on target, and one goal to his name. He has also had some guilt-edge opportunities, including a sitter in the latter stages of the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest prior to the international break.
A small group of players, Reece James, Armando Broja, and Benoît Badiashile, have stayed behind at Cobham to continue their preparations. James, the newly-appointed club captain, has been sidelined since the opening game of the season against Liverpool with a hamstring problem. The England international is expected to return to action soon as he continues his recovery.
Broja, who has been sidelined for months with a serious injury, is now available to return. The club is being cautious when it comes to re-introducing Broja, who has been missing since December after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi.
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Having all three players fit and available once again will come as a welcome and timely boost for Pochettino. James is one of the best right-backs in the Premier League when he is fit and firing, while Broja will provide Jackson with solid support and competition.
Badiashile is a more than capable replacement for Levi Colwill should the England international ever need to come out of the side for whatever reason.