Pochettino shares why he isn’t picking ex-Spurs talent at Chelsea

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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has indicated that Noni Madueke simply wasn’t selected for Wednesday’s game against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Noni Madueke seemingly faces a major battle to convince Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues picked up a much-needed win on Wednesday night, beating Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Nicolas Jackson scored the only goal of the game, handing Chelsea a passage into the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

Chelsea have been in dire form lately so Pochettino will be delighted to just get a win – but fans are now wondering about the future of winger Madueke.

Mauricio Pochettino explains Noni Madueke absence

Madueke wasn’t even on the bench for Chelsea as they beat Brighton.

The winger hasn’t been starting in the Premier League but the EFL Cup seemed like an ideal opportunity for him.

Not only did Madueke not start, but he wasn’t even on the bench in what could be a major blow to his Chelsea career.

Pochettino was asked about the situation after the game and offered a fairly blunt explanation to Football London.

“It’s about choice,” said Pochettino, indicating that Madueke’s absence was not down to injury at all.

Madueke faces real battle at Chelsea

Chelsea only signed Madueke in January, forking out around £29million to sign him from PSV Eindhoven.

Madueke has only played 44 minutes of Premier League action this season even with Chelsea lacking a cutting edge in the final third.

The 21-year-old has now seen Chelsea bring in another England, right-sided, left-footed winger in Cole Palmer.

That is a real blow to Madueke’s playing time, and he hasn’t played a single minute since the international break.

Madueke was highly-rated at Tottenham Hotspur during Pochettino’s in charge there and some believed that he would really kick on this season.

Instead, it looks like the former Spurs talent is in an uphill battle to save his Chelsea career and a January exit wouldn’t be a surprise at this stage.