Santos returned to Chelsea last week after his loan spell at Premier League side Nottingham Forest was ended early.

The 19-year-old has since trained with the first-team squad at Cobham but will soon depart to try to help his country secure a place at the 2024 Olympic Games, which will take place in Paris this summer.

‘Andrey is going to Brazil to join the national team,' Pochettino confirmed at his pre-match press conference ahead of our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough.

'For one month, he is going to be out of the dynamic of the club. During this time, we will decide if it is good for him to move on loan again or whether he stays with us when he is back from the national team.’

With the January transfer window open – and several players absent due to injury – Pochettino has also faced questions as to whether reinforcements to his squad are required. His message has remained consistent.

‘We are assessing the squad as always,' the Chelsea head coach said. 'We had a conversation with the owners and sporting directors yesterday and today. We are looking, like all the teams, at options or opportunities.

'But I am very positive and happy with the squad. We are working and if something appears, we will announce it. But at the moment, we are assessing and working normally, as we have from the beginning of the season.'