Huge boost for Chelsea as Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia train ahead of Newcastle clash

With Chelsea team-mates involved in international games elsehwere, Nkunku and Lavia were pictured training together at Cobham on Monday evening. Following earlier reports that both are at last nearing full fitness and their respective debuts, it raises the possibility that either could feature against Newcastle.

Signed in the summer, both Nkunku, who cost £53 million ($67m), and £58m ($74m) Lavia are yet to play for Chelsea. The former, who scored 58 goals for RB Leipzig in the previous two campaigns alone, had impressed in pre-season before suffering a knee ligament injury in a friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The Blues later beat Liverpool to Lavia's signature but an ankle problem has kept him out of action.

Mauricio Pochettino said prior to facing Manchester City recently: "I had a conversation with Christopher and he said to me he wanted to be involved after the international break, against Newcastle. I think he's close and he is doing really well. We are so happy with him in the way that he is doing his recovery. He is very professional. Romeo Lavia is also close."

After a dire start to the season, Chelsea finally seem to be finding some rhythm and have only lost one of their last eight games in all competitions, winning five of them. Having pushed Manchester City all the way in a 4-4 draw last time out, they need to keep that momentum going into upcoming fixtures against Newcastle, Brighton, Manchester United, Everton and Sheffield United over the next four weeks.