Chelsea goalscorer tipped for January transfer as Joao Felix truth clear for Enzo Maresca

Chelsea made it two wins in as many Europa Conference League games on Thursday with a comfortable 4-1 win away at Panathinaikos.

There was an emotional tribute to the late Greece international George Baldock during the evening, with Chelsea players taking a commemorative photo with a Baldock shirt ahead of kick-off. The match itself went swimmingly for the Blues.

Joao Felix scored twice, with Mykhailo Mudryk’s goal on 48 minutes wedged in between. Christopher Nkunku scored his eighth goal in 13 matches via the penalty spot on 59 minutes, with the only blot of the night being a goal for the hosts 10 minutes later.

That was scored by former Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri. Two of the Chelsea goal-scorers were singled out by Blues great Glenn Hoddle on TNT Sports’ coverage, for differing reasons.

Nkunku ‘might seek January exit’

Speaking ahead of the game, Hoddle suggested Nkunku might seek an exit from Chelsea in January if he is not offered consistent starts. The Frenchman has played in every game so far this season but has only begun one of his eight Premier League outings.

Nicolas Jackson, who has five goals in nine games, is usually preferred over Nkunku by Enzo Maresca. Hoddle believes this could ultimately become a sticking point if the pattern continues.

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He said: “The injuries are obviously there, he [Nkunku] knows he’s not quite at his sharpest yet. When I look at Chelsea’s forwards, I think Nkunku would be more clinical than Nicolas Jackson if he had the same time on the pitch and had his chances so far this season.

“Jackson is obviously improving and getting more confident, he has the manager’s faith and backing right now. Whether Nkunku is going to be happy… he might be one that will think he needs to leave come January if this is still happening.”

Football.london says:The evidence suggests Nkunku is being used sensibly and to greatest effect given his injury problems of the past. Six starts out of 13 games and eight goals indicates something is working.

It seems apparent that Nkunku is the more clinical striker at the club but it would be foolish to ignore the 36 games he missed through injury last season. Perhaps more league starts are in order but the player himself surely realises his measured game time is a precaution against further injury issues.

Felix the ‘pick of the bunch’

After the match, Hoddle pinpointed Felix as the man of the match. His double on Thursday took his tally to three goals in eight outings this season.

Hoddle named him as “the pick of the bunch” on the night, after saying at half-time: “For me, Felix looks really good when he gets in that nine position. He drifts into them positions… That’s where he goes. He drifts into them positions, becomes a nine, and gets the goal.”

Football.london says:Felix is up against it at Chelsea with two strikers ahead of him and Cole Palmer to dislodge in attacking midfield. He has to take the chances he gets and he did that on Thursday. Perhaps is he one victim of the stacked attacking options at the club.

Yet to start in the Premier League, it’s very possible he goes another month without one. It seems unlikely he will start against Newcastle this weekend, with Manchester United and Arsenal following before the trip to Leicester City on November 23.