Chelsea get dream Enzo Fernandez scenario after huge injury worry for Mauricio Pochettino

Chelsea news after the Blues secure a first win of the season without Enzo Fernandez as the Argentine midfielder remains out with injury

Chelsea's win over Crystal Palace was a game that felt a lot like others in 2023. It had all the hallmarks of matches that the Blues have failed to win over the past 18 months but some added fight, a little bit of luck and general good play here and there got them over the line.

From the loaded possession to the half chances missed, poor counter-attacking decision making, huge opportunities squandered and Stamford Bridge groans, there was a familiar feel about much of this. However, not only did Mauricio Pochettino's side keep themselves going, they also managed to win late on and did so without Enzo Fernandez for just the first time this season.

The Argentine has played more football than most in the past year, being crowned a world champion this time in 2022, it's no surprise he has gradually fatigued. With Romeo Lavia out until this past week there has been added burden on Fernandez both physically and mentally.

Here is a 22-year-old that has been in the country for less than a full season, with a new-born baby to look after and the weight of most of the creative play in a dysfunctional, highly inefficient team. No wonder his body let him down earlier this month. No wonder Pochettino has been forced to go without.

However, unlike against Sheffield United where he was used as a late substitute, Fernandez played no role at all in the win over Palace. He managed half an hour of the eventual penalties win against Newcastle before being taken off through illness - it was later explained that he is nursing a hernia injury.

In the league this was the first win Chelsea have had without him since he arrived last January. For Pochettino it was a big day and the fact that his Argentine compatriot wasn't there has even wider ramifications for the squad than just the three points.

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Fernandez was, alongside Nicolas Jackson and Conor Gallagher, one of the players at risk of hitting the five yellow card threshold before the halfway stage of the season. Had Fernandez played more in the game last week, any part in the defeat at Wolves or now against Palace he could have picked up a booking and had to miss a game.

Gallagher was two away from the threshold as Chelsea played their 19th game and therefore moved into the second half of the season and the new 10 yellow limit. Jackson was only two from meeting that new bar.

Now, when Fernandez comes back, which is currently for an unspecified period but is expected to be into the New Year at minimum, he has some freedom to patrol the midfield. In a team that is losing players left, right and centre through injuries and now suspensions, Pochettino can hardly afford to be without someone who has been so central to his plans so far.

In the absence of Fernandez, he has been left with a threadbare group at his disposal. Lesley Ugochukwu returned prematurely from injury but had to go off in the second half against Wolves whilst Caicedo played through illness in the past week. Gallagher is the only player consistently making the pitch and even he was out for a game earlier this month after seeing red at home to Brighton.

Luckily Lavia was fit enough to get into a matchday squad for the first time just days after Fernandez's injury became clear but even he has picked up a rebound knock. The Belgian made his debut for Chelsea on Wednesday night but Pochettino revealed afterwards there was a worry with him, reportedly said to be around his thigh.

There are, at least, some numbers coming in and out of the squad for Chelsea now but players are often being forced in and out of games at this tricky time of year ahead of schedule, failing to build up momentum. Fernandez will have to come back at some stage too but Pochettino has already shown how reticent he is to rushing his troops back ahead of time.

At least when he does return there is no imminent threat of a suspension as there was before. Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer both fell foul to ill-discipline, missing the Crystal Palace game after reaching their fifth booking of the season on Christmas Eve whilst Jackson has already served his own ban but is just two bookings away from missing two more games at the 10 yellow cut off for the rest of the season.

With such a lengthy injury list and Fernandez's importance remaining paramount to much of the positive play Chelsea have had this year any little helps and if there is a cloud to his absence it is that he remains six yellows away now from missing any extra action.

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