Nkunku has Maur to give as focal point of Poch's attack

Christopher Nkunku relished playing as an out-and-out striker last night as Chelsea beat Wrexham 5-0.

The Frenchman capped his second-half cameo with the fourth goal during a comfortable win for Mauricio Pochettino's youthful side in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

While he is capable of playing on either flank or a in a deeper role, Nkunku prefers to lead the line. 

And he clearly believes he is the man to help the Blues improve on last season's paltry return of 38 Premier League goals during what promises to be an exciting 2023-24 campaign under Pochettino. 

Speaking after making his debut against the Red Dragons, Nkunku told the club's official website: "We scored five goals and didn't concede, so it's good for our confidence. 

"For me, I like to play this position, to be free to move and to have the ball into my feet and into space. 

"This is my position. I was very happy. 

"I'm a new player, I try to have a good relationship with everybody and to know everybody. This will be important for the following games."

With the first victory of the Pochettino era wrapped up, Chelsea have moved on to Philadelphia for the next leg of their pre-season tour of the United States. 

They face Brighton on Saturday and Nkunku, 25, reckons the club's new-look squad is already beginning to gel. 

He added: "We just need adaptation and we are working in training for this. The next week will be very positive. 

"We know we came here for work and to improve."

Poch clearly agrees with Nkunku, who switched from RB Leipzig earlier this summer, that there is plenty of hard work yet to come. 

The new Chelsea boss, 51, said: "I'm happy because of the attitude. 

"But of course, it is time to improve. I think it is part of the process in this period to learn in the way we want to play and build the physical condition."