Christopher Nkunku was ecstatic as Chelsea advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. On Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino’s side defeated Brighton, 1-0, thanks to a goal from Nicolas Jackson.

Behind the home dugout, Nkunku was joined by his Blues teammates Thiago Silva, Noni Madueke, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Benoit Badiashile, and Reece James. The likes of Alfie Gilchrist, Josh Brooking, and Alex Matos were brought up from the academy to participate on the bench, and while they couldn’t contribute on the pitch, they certainly enjoyed the support they received.

Nkunku posted a victory selfie to his Instagram story after the match, captioned with the emojis for a green checkmark and a round of applause, suggesting that he was ready for the “next round.” On Wednesday, November 1, Chelsea will play Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round.

Despite not having yet made his Chelsea debut since signing this summer, the French international will be eager to get his hands on some hardware once he recovers from his ιnjury. During west London’s final preseason match against Borussia Dortmund, Nkunku suffered a knee ιnjury.

The 25-year-old striker just had surgery and is continuing his recovery with Chelsea’s medical staff. The loss of Nkunku for an indefinite period of time is devastating news for the Blues, who were hoping to make a run at the Champions League this season.

The Frenchman may have a triumphant homecoming from the locker room if Pochettino keeps them in the Carabao Cup. The semi-final of the Carabao Cup will begin the week of January 2, and the quarter-final will be played the week of December 18.

Sunday, February 25, 2024, will be the day set for the championship match. Nkunku’s timetable for recovery from ιnjury is currently unknown. If Chelsea keeps winning in the Carabao Cup, Pochettino will want him back in the starting lineup as soon as possible.