Chelsea's midfield headache : Tuchel reveals Nigeria-eligible player is an option

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was on media duties on Monday before his side's trip to the South Coast, where they do battle with Joe Aribo's Southampton in a Premier League match on Tuesday evening.

The Blues midfield crisis deepened following the dismissal of Conor Gallagher for two reckless challenges during the first half of a 2-1 win versus Leicester City at the weekend.

France's World Cup winner N'Golo Kante has picked up a hamstring issue which will sideline him for up to four weeks, while Mateo Kovacic is not yet in tiptop condition after recovering from a knee injury.

With options limited in midfield, it could open the door for 2022 European U19 champion of Nigerian descent Carney Chukwuemeka to be included in the matchday squad against Southampton.

Tuchel has confirmed as much, saying that the summer signing from Aston Villa is an option in midfield as a young player.

On midfield being a headache for the Southampton game, Tuchel was quoted as saying by Chelsea's official website : "It's the area where normally I would love to have a headache who plays and who is on the bench.

"I thought we could have five players who could all play for us, and have on top Carney as an option as a young player.

"The headache before the season was ‘do we have too many players there?’. It comes to the fifth game and we have only two left with experience in this position, and Kova from the bench.

"At the moment he’s not ready to play full matches at Premier League level. He has only had one week of training after his injury"

Chukwuemeka has made one matchday squad since joining Chelsea and has played two matches for the development squad in the Premier League 2 to build up his match fitness ahead of a possible debut for the first team.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com

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