Chelsea star Christopher Nkunku breaks silence after injury scare with message before Aston Villa

Christopher Nkunku doesn't appear to be in too much bother despite being off with an injury fear in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Heidenheim in the Conference League on Thursday. After scoring the game's opening goal, Nkunku was forced off 25 minutes later with a knock.

The 27-year-old looked to be in some discomfort as he walked off with a Chelsea physio. Carney Chukwuemeka came on in his place before Mykhailo Mudryk wrapped up the three points late on.

The victory sees Chelsea remain top of the league with a 100% record. Things were far from easy in Germany on a cold night here, though, as Heidenheim lived up to being the toughest opponents for the Blues on paper.

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Enzo Maresca and his side had Filip Jorgensen to thank for staying in the game with Nkunku providing a sprinkling of stardust when needed. He bagged his seventh of the European campaign to go alongside two in the play-off round against Servette.

Nkunku will now be aiming to get himself a bigger role in the Premier League side ahead of a busy run of fixtures leading up to Christmas and the New Year schedule. Chelsea will take on Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday before also facing Southampton and Tottenham in the following week.

A fit Nkunku will be a valuable option for Maresca moving forward, and the player's online activity suggests that his niggle isn't too much to worry about. Writing on Instagram after the game, Nkunku said: "Another W [win] in the race [punching hands emoji] Well done blues [blue circle emoji]."

With no mention of his fitness, Nkunku also uploaded a short video of himself walking out onto the pitch prior to the game with images of a touch and shot being taken. Chelsea will now be keen to get him back to Cobham and assessed prior to their preparations for Villa.

"Filip did a very good game, Christo the same," Maresca said when asked if the difference was made at both ends of the pitch. "We have a game on Sunday and then on Wednesday. We have nine or 10 games in December, so it is more or less a game every two or three days. They are going to get chances so they need to be ready."

Nkunku wasn't the only one to celebrate the win. Renato Veiga wrote, "A cold victory in Germany [freezing face and blue heart emojis]", whilst Axel Disasi is looking forward, adding, "Job done, one to the next one."

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, both left at home for the match, also posted their congratulations for the squad. Joao Felix did the same, although he was used from the bench with half an hour to play.