October 11, (THEWILL) — Chelsea face fresh concerns over Enzo Fernández after the midfielder left the Argentina camp early due to a knee problem. The 24-year-old featured for 78 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Venezuela, recording more touches and passes than any other player on the pitch, but Argentina confirmed his departure later that day citing inflammation of the knee.
The Blues were already dealing with significant absences before the international break, having been without Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Cole Palmer and Liam Delap for their narrow victory over Liverpool. Josh Acheampong and Benoît Badiashile picked up fitness concerns during that same match, adding to manager Enzo Maresca’s difficulties.
Fernández was not scheduled to feature in Argentina’s second friendly against Puerto Rico, prompting his early return to west London. The decision allows him to begin treatment at Chelsea’s facilities, though the club will assess the severity of the issue in the coming days.
Maresca will be anxious about the midfielder’s availability for the English Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest, particularly given recent reports suggesting Palmer will not return until November. Fernández has contributed three goals and one assist in the league this season, making his absence a potential blow to Chelsea’s midfield options.
The timing compounds an already difficult period for the Blues, who have seen their squad depth tested repeatedly in recent weeks. With key personnel sidelined across multiple positions, Maresca faces growing pressure to manage his available resources carefully ahead of a demanding fixture schedule.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
