Christopher Nkunku has become the first Chelsea player to score in his first four major European games for the club.
The French forward netted the opening goal for the Blues in their 2-0 win away to Bundesliga club Heidenheim in the Conference League this evening, helping them to a fourth win in four so far in the competition.
By scoring tonight, not only has the 27-year-old become the first player to ever net in his first four continental games, he has also become the first man since Olivier Giroud in Chelsea's successful Europa League campaign in 2018-19 to net in four consecutive European games for the club.
If qualifiers were also taken into account, Nkunku's record in the Conference League is even better, considering he scored in both playoff ties with Swiss side Servette back in August.
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Nkunku firing Chelsea to the Conference League summit
Two penalties across both legs from Nkunku were crucial in getting them over the line against Servette 3-2 on aggregate in qualifying, and he has continued that fine form in the league phase.
After netting the winner at Bournemouth off the bench in the Premier League, and scoring a hat trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup, Nkunku then helped get Chelsea's Conference League campaign off and running with the nerve-settling third goal in an eventual 4-2 win over Gent.
A less important goal game against Panathinaikos, with Nkunku netting a fourth goal without reply from the penalty spot in a thumping win away in Athens.
Nkunku got in on the act in their 8-0 thrashing of Armenian side Noah on matchday three too, setting up Mykhaylo Mudryk in the first half, before bagging a brace in the second half.
Tonight's goal keeps Nkunku joint-top of the Conference League scoring charts along with Jagiellonia Bialystok's Afimico Pululu, who also added to his European tally tonight in their 3-3 draw with Celje.
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Could Nkunku break into the Premier League XI
Chelsea's huge squad has afforded manager Enzo Maresca the opportunity to experiment with an entirely different XI for cup games so far this season.
The Italian has also been slightly fortunate with the low number of injuries his side has suffered, especially among players in his first-choice XI.
That means the likes of Nkunku, along with Joao Felix, Mudryk and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among others, have only gotten any serious game time in the Conference League and the EFL Cup.
However, with the hectic festive period looming, Nkunku may get an opportunity in the Premier League sooner rather than later, but it will be a difficult task usurping the in-form Nicolas Jackson up front.
The Senegalese striker netted in the 2-1 win over Leicester City last weekend, taking his tally to seven goals in 12 games this season, and he has also formed a fine partnership with Cole Palmer.
Nkunku is set to start on the bench once again when Chelsea face Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
Andrew Delaney
