Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino does not want to rush summer arrival Christopher Nkunku.

The France international is back after a lengthy knee injury that he sustained in preseason.

Nkunku may be involved as the Blues take on Newcastle United in the League Cup on Tuesday.

"Because the reality is he was a player to be involved," Pochettino told reporters.

"After 2-0 [vs Sheffield United], I did not want to take a risk with him.

“And if tomorrow, I think, because he seemed today much better than the day before to play against Sheffield United, maybe it increases the possibility for him to be involved.

"How I see today; I can tell you maybe he can play 20 minutes. How I saw him before the game against Sheffield United; in my mind, I was one per cent, two per cent of doubt. That is why I didn't want to take a risk. That is how I explained to him.

"I need to be 100 per cent. And then, okay, things can happen. But if I have one per cent of doubt. It was good for him to be involved with the team in the warm-up, that was amazing.

"But to take a risk when we were 2-0 up in the game. Because one per cent in the back of my mind was thinking, 'I don't know if this is the right moment for him to play'."