Chelsea’s attack is close to catching fire — now a forgotten signing can ignite it

Where he looked at his best was perhaps as a free-roving centre-forward, able to be a box presence but also contribute enormously to the team’s build-up play, but one doesn’t necessarily directly translate to the other given the differences between Leipzig’s at-times chaotic and fully-committed transition attacking play, and Pochettino aiming to give Chelsea’s approach more structure, more consistency, more dominance.

Jackson’s purple patch and ability to lead the line could mean that as well as lessening how quickly Nkunku is called upon, he acts best as part of a two-man attack when opposition quality allows. From Pochettino’s current team, that likely means one of the midfield triumvirate of Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez or Moises Caicedo is removed from the fold. But if it’s unlikely that happens too often, too soon, then Nkunku’s versatility may quickly make him Chelsea’s biggest tactical weapon as well as possibly their most potent one: his ability to attack from all areas of the final third means the manager can pick and choose whether it’s a game for midfield solidity, for Palmer’s impetuous creativity or for Jackson’s constant foraging behind the defensive line.

Occasionally it may be a game for all three, of course. But Nkunku’s mix of ball-carrying, ability to pick a pass and propensity for finding the back of the net – with 16 goals he joint-top scored in the Bundesliga last term – means that, once fit, he’ll almost certainly be the man for all solutions, for all gameplans, for all opponents.

Chelsea may find that his return is a timely one.

Of course, the team as a whole finding more form and cohesion, and more of the self-belief which comes from the former two facets, could itself lead to an upturn in fortunes. But so too might their upcoming fixture list, despite looking relatively tough on the face of things.

Newcastle Brighton, Manchester United and Everton – only the Seagulls visiting Stamford Bridge in that run – looks a difficult three weeks or so to navigate.

But the Magpies will head into the game short due to injuries and on the back of two wins in six, with a crucial trip to PSG following three days later. Minds, as well as team selections, might not be 100 per cent geared towards the league encounter. Brighton have themselves struggled for fluency of late, with just two wins in ten dating back to late September, while the less said about consistency and cohesion the better, regarding Erik ten Hag’s team this season. There are chances here, then, for Pochettino to pick up not just points but positivity and progression, up the table and with regards to finding his favoured, regular team.

Chelsea’s squad and spending alike should insist upon a much higher position in the table. They’ve improved enough in recent weeks to show they’ll certainly start to move up; how quickly Nkunku is integrated and rediscovers his best level will almost certainly dictate just how much higher they go.

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