Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed when he plans to unleash record signing Romelu Lukaku in the Premier League.
Romelu Lukaku could make his second Chelsea debut against Arsenal in the Premier League next Sunday, says Thomas Tuchel.
The 28-year-old won’t be available for Chelsea’s first game of the new season against Crystal Palace on Saturday. He is in quarantine after arriving in London from Italy on Wednesday evening to complete his club-record €115 million move.
As per UK’s COVID-19 protocols for visitors from abroad, Lukaku can exit quarantine if he returns a negative PCR test on his fifth day. The former Inter Milan striker should, therefore, be available for training on Monday at Chelsea’s Cobham Training Centre.
“Romelu is still in quarantine and following the protocols,” said Tuchel in a press conference on Friday evening.
“He will be out on Monday doing the whole training with us next week and will play for us against Arsenal. This is the plan.
“We always try to do it as fast as possible and the sooner the better. As I said, if we could have wished for something, he would have been maybe on the pitch and available for even Wednesday. But the sooner the better, because every game counts and we are happy.”
Who else is missing for Tuchel?
Hakim Ziyech is the other player that Tuchel will have to cope without against Crystal Palace. The Morocco international suffered a shoulder injury in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup win over Villarreal.
N’Golo Kante, meanwhile, is a doubt after picking up a small knock in the same match. Tuchel claims the 30-year-old has ‘issues’ after the fixture went to extra time and penalties.
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