"Yes, for sure, for sure," were the words of Enzo Maresca last week when quizzed on whether Christopher Nkunku will have a bigger role at Chelsea between now and the end of the season.

Maresca has insisted the club were never looking to offload Nkunku in the January transfer window with the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United both showing a heavy interest in the Frenchman and having offers rebuffed. The 27-year-old forward is the club's second top goal scorer this season - striking 13 times in all competitions for the Blues, only behind Cole Palmer.

Nkunku signed for the west Londoners in the summer of 2023 for around £52million, moving to Stamford Bridge after an agreement had been in place with RB Leipzig for several months beforehand. During his time at the Red Bull Arena, the France international was first used as a winger under Julian Nagelsmann but was also employed in the No.10 role occasionally.

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However, he enjoyed arguably his best football in Germany while being used as a central striker - a position Maresca does not feel comes naturally to Nkunku. "Probably the best moment from Christo for us was in pre-season," the Italian said in November. "He also played the first Premier League game against Manchester City from the start as a winger, and we know that it's not his best position.

"We know that Christo's best position is between the lines as a 10, but Cole is playing there, and we are not going to play many games with Cole and Christo, or with Cole and Joao [Felix]."

During his time with Leipzig, Nkunku would more often than not be used as a 'second striker' - somewhere we saw him employed, if you cast your mind back, under Mauricio Pochettino in pre-season back in 2023. Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson linked up really well with each other during the club's tour of the United States before the former picked up an injury in Chelsea's final game against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago.

According to statistics gathered by Transfermarkt, the versatile Frenchman was used on 52 occasions as a 'second striker' during his time with the German club. His record in that period is very impressive: with 34 goals and 18 assists to his name - averaging a direct goal contribution a match.

It seems Nkunku unequivocally enjoys his football most where he can link up with another No.9 and almost play off him to an extent. The French forward did just that with Andre Silva at Leipzig, playing with each other on 76 occasions during their days in east Germany.

Chelsea under Maresca, though, do not play like that; the system does not allow two strikers on the pitch at the same time. Unless, of course, one of them - and it has been Nkunku usually - is being used out of position.

Palmer is the man that is used in the No.10 position and that spells bad news for Nkunku. The England international has started all 24 of Chelsea's Premier League matches this season and, injury permitting, there is no sign Maresca will change his mind anytime soon. With 14 goals and six assists in the league, Palmer remains the Blues' most significant attacking player.

Nkunku may have to settle with cameo appearances at striker unless Maresca chooses to use him out wide. After seeing him on Saturday night, though, when the Frenchman was dropping back so deep that he actually collected the ball from the centre-backs at one point, Blues supporters would love to see him used elsewhere.