Chelsea coach Pochettino provides update on Madueke's fitness pre-West Ham United 

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has provided a positive update on the fitness of 2023 European U21 champion with England, Noni Madueke ahead of his side's Premier League meeting with West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Madueke picked up an injury during The Blues' tour of the United States and as a result he missed the pre-season fixtures against Wrexham, Brighton & Hove, Newcastle United, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund. 

The exciting winger resumed full training with the squad in the days leading up to Chelsea's season opener against Liverpool. 

However, Pochettino believed that it was best not to risk him against the Reds, bearing it in mind that he was lacking match fitness, having played his last game for club and country at the U21 Euro on July 8. 

The Argentine football tactician has hinted at giving Madueke game time against the Hammers on Sunday. 

"He is much better. He was involved in the Liverpool game, but we wanted to avoid because it was too early to take a risk with him, but now he was training really well during the week," Pochettino said to Chelsea's official website. 

"He is going to be involved against West Ham and maybe with the possibility to play."

Madueke initially struggled for game time in the second half of last season following his move from PSV Eindhoven but broke into the starting lineup with the appointment of Frank Lampard as coach on a caretaker basis. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: chelseafc.com

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