Mauricio Pochettino says Reece James will join the Chelsea squad “soon” and praised Christopher Nkunku for his goalscoring debut.
The new Blues boss oversaw Chelsea’s 5-0 win over Wrexham in their opening pre-season match in the United States.
Ian Maatsen scored a first-half brace and Conor Gallagher and Ben Chilwell were on target after the break at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in North Carolina, though a young Chelsea side were without James, who has been suffering with illness.
Pochettino gave an update on the defender’s availability after the game on Wednesday night, saying: “He is flying soon and he is going to join the team.”
Nkunku scored a wonderful goal in the 90th minute against Wrexham, rounding goalkeeper Rob Lainton and finishing into an empty net.
Pochettino was glad to see his makeshift No9 lift the spirits on his debut, adding: “The most important thing now is to get feelings, starting to play again after the holidays. All the players came at different levels and now it is about putting them all at similar levels.”
The Chelsea manager admitted that his incomplete squad means that he was forced to use the £53m signing from RB Leipzig as a striker.
“I think for the possibility today and the different players we have available and I think it’s a position we decide today… we only have Jackson and him with the possibility to play as a striker,” Pochettino said.
