For the time being, Pochettino has to deal without both players as he navigates a difficult home game against Manchester City on Sunday. The Argentinian still has five players out when including Nkunku and Lavia, and the 51-year-old is also having to protect certain members of the squad.
Chelsea are also taking no chances with Reece James after England boss Gareth Southgate claimed the right-back had turned down his international call-up to concentrate on improving his fitness.
And Pochettino disagreed with Southgate’s comment that the Blues captain had made the decision on his own, insisting Chelsea’s medical team were given the authority to make the decision.
“[It’s] never the decision of the player. It’s about [how] to assess. The medical, sport science, coaching staff take the decisions, not the player,” he added. “He’s desperate to go the national team. He wanted to go. But we take the best decision for him.”
