Mauricio Pochettino will be buoyed by a number of things happening at Chelsea right now.
The fact that they are sitting in the European places in the Premier League for the first time in some time is a great achievement, although the owners are reportedly demanding even more.
Another major boost is the plethora of first team players beginning to return from injury ahead of the final three games of the season.
Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto came off the bench to feature, with them likely to play a big part in the final matches of the campaign.
There was also the presence of Raheem Sterling and Levi Colwill on the bench, with them not needed in the dominant 5-0 win over West Ham.
Another player who is reportedly close to approaching a return is club captain Reece James, with him stepping up his training sessions to feature alongside the first team.
Pochettino should not play Reece James this season
With the manager describing him as ‘unbelievable’ earlier this season, it can be understood there is an appetite to throw him straight back into the action.
Any appearance would be his first of 2024 after another injury-ravaged campaign, and this time it has forced him to undergo surgery.
There will be hopes that this could help see him come out the other side of his woes, but it can’t be underestimated just how important an extra three months or so without match action can be for his body.
Malo Gusto good enough to play for rest of season
In his absence, the Blues should be able to rely on Gusto to fill the void for the crucial three remaining matches, with him proving to be a top player in his first campaign here.
Cole Palmer even voted for the Frenchman as his player’s player of the season, and although James at his best is one of the best around, him being repetitively injured is not the way to get it out of him.
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