Chelsea manager Graham Potter believes Kai Havertz can lead the Blues’ attack against Nottingham Forest today.
Potter admits that it has been difficult at times to give Havertz a permanent position, but he offers his thoughts on the current state of affairs.
“Kai is only 23 years old,” Potter says. “He came into this country on the back of a fantastic period in Germany but he’s still a young player.
“You can’t do anything about the price tag and all that goes with that, and there’s an expectation, but he’s still a young player that’s learning the game and has fantastic quality. As a nine, I believe he provides you with flexibility and variability in the game. He can come in and play, but he can also threaten the backline and score. So I like him in that role.
“With the time we’ve had, we’ve had to change a few things. It’s nice to have that clarity [on position], but it’s not always possible. Because the players’ abilities are diverse, they can play in a variety of positions. Kai is one of those people.
“I have to make the [team selection] decision based on what I think every day in training, and Kai is a German International who scores goals and plays for the German national team, and his goal record there is elite level,” he says. Whenever he’s played there, he’s been able to score and contribute to the team.”
