When will Aubameyang make Chelsea debut after broken jaw?
Karan Tejwani
- 6 Sept 2022 12:15 BST
- 3 min read
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed a deadline day move from Barcelona to Chelsea, reuniting with former boss Thomas Tuchel in the process.
The two clubs were in negotiations for several days before a deal was agreed that took the Gabon forward to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the transfer window.
Chelsea wanted to bring in another forward to make up losses of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner over the summer, and Raheem Sterling was their only attacking signing.
Now, Aubameyang is at Chelsea and ready to play for the club, but when can he make his debut for the Blues as he returns to English football?
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Aubameyang set for Champions League bow
The 33-year-old watched on from the stands over the weekend as Chelsea beat West Ham United 2-1 in controversial circumstances in the Premier League.
However, he has travelled with the squad to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, and he could play in Europe’s premier club cup competition for the first time since his Borussia Dortmund days.
The forward will be wearing a face mask having had his jaw broken just before he left Barcelona after a group of four men broke into his house and assaulted him, as well as threatened him with firearms.
Aubameyang ✅
Zakaria ✅
Silva ❌
Thomas Tuchel confirms who is available for Chelsea's Champions League opener at Dinamo Zagreb.pic.twitter.com/M4jP8RNKw0— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 5, 2022
Tuchel has confirmed his team will monitor Aubameyang’s health: "If an issue comes up with the mask today we will not put him in of course, but there was no issue for him yesterday and I hope there will not be an issue today."
The German manager also added that he may not play the full game and that he wants to get the player back to full fitness before giving him regular game time.
"If he is ready to start he cannot play 90 minutes so it is on us to take a decision how we manage the minutes. That he needs minutes to get his full fitness is clear so it's on us to find the solution if he is on the bench or if he starts."
