Chelsea train in Zagreb as Tuchel hints 'superhero' Aubameyang could feature - in pictures

Deadline-day signing will wear a protective mask as he continues recovery from injuries to his jaw following armed robbery

Chelsea midfielder stretches alongside teammates during a training session at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb on September 5, 2022, on the eve of their Uefa Champions League Group E match against Dinamo Zagreb. AFP

Chelsea players attend a training session in Zagreb, Croatia, 05 September 2022. EPA

Chelsea players attend a training session ahead of their Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb. EPA

Chelsea players attend a training session in Zagreb, Croatia. EPA

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, centre, stretches alongside teammates. EPA

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher takes part in training. EPA

Chelsea players attend a training session in Zagreb, Croatia. EPA

Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel, right. AFP

Chelsea players attend a training session at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. AFP

Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel. AFP

Chelsea's Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic smiles during a press conference at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. AFP

Head Coach of Chelsea Thonas Tuchel speaks to the media. EPA

Chelsea players including new striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang trained in Croatia ahead of Tuesday's Champions League Group E opener against Dinamo Zagreb.

Aubameyang joined the Blues on transfer deadline day from Barcelona but was thought to be weeks away from first-team duty as he recovers from an injured jaw following an attack by armed men at his family home in Spain.

But the Gabon international, 33, could be in line to make his debut for the London side in Zagreb wearing a protective mask for his injured jaw but Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel on Monday implored the media not to give him ideas of being a 'superhero'.

Tuchel joked in his pre-match press conference: "Don't put any ideas into Auba's head please, any further ideas.

"I'm pretty sure he has his own ones. When he scores he can celebrate. First of all, he needs to score.

"He's very ambitious, very focused. He's hungry to play for us and prove a point. That's why he's here, that's what we felt from the first moment. He's happily invited to prove a point tomorrow."

Although his current mask is for medical purposes, in the past Aubameyang has celebrated goals by donning masks of comic book heroes — including Batman, Spider-Man and Black Panther — saying he puts them on to make his kids happy.

Tuchel said a call on Aubameyang playing would be taken depending on how he trains again, but would not play the full match.

"Is he ready to start? Of course. He cannot play 90 minutes," Tuchel added.

"It's on us to take a decision on how we manage the minutes. He needs minutes to get his full fitness and rhythm. It's on us to find a solution if he comes from the bench or if he starts."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring for Barcelona in a friendly match against Manchester City at Camp Nou, on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. EPA

Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores against Manchester City in the friendly match at Camp Nou. Getty

Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates with Franck Kessie after scoring in the friendly against Pumas UNAM at Camp Nou on Sunday, August 7, 2022. Getty

Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heads home in the La Liga match against Levante at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia in April, 2022. Reuters

Barcelona's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, right, chips the ball over Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to score in the La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu in March, 2022. AP

Barcelona's Memphis Depay celebrates scoring against Manchester City in the friendly at Camp Nou. Reuters

Barcelona's Memphis Depay celebrates with Frenkie De Jong during the friendly match against Pumas UNAM at Camp Nou. AFP

Memphis Depay scores for Barcelona in the friendly match against Inter Miami at DRV PNK Stadium in Florida on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. AFP

Memphis Depay celebrates after scoring for Barcelona in the La Liga match against Celta Vigo at Camp Nou in May, 2022. AFP

Barcelona's Memphis Depay scores against Celta Vigo. Reuters