Mauricio Pochettino confirms injury boost but completely rules out 22-year-old from starting against Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed striker Armando Broja could be back on the bench against Tottenham on Monday night as he looks to have options in attack against his former team.

Broja has scored already this season in the league but has been battling fitness from a knee injury he suffered last season and then picked up another injury after returning which has meant he’s missed the last three games.

Asked if he was making progress, the Chelsea boss confirmed he was back in training and they were looking to at least name him in the team for the big derby on Monday night.

Pochettino told reporters: “Now we need to assess him to see if he’s ready to start or not on Monday. Maybe he will be available to be on the bench for Monday. He is training today and hope he can be involved.”

This will be the first time Pochettino returns to Tottenham and he goes there as Chelsea boss with some Spurs fans looking to boo him.

But Pochettino calmly stated nothing will change the fact that he and his coaching staff had a good time while working at Spurs in the last five years.

He added: “It’s really special [to return] because coming back after four years to a place we have amazing memories and created amazing memories together, I think it is special. I cannot lie.

“The moment I left the club, it was a difficult situation, a difficult moment. Now, we have the opportunity to come back and see people who are still working there, a good chance for us, and it’s going to be an exciting moment.”