Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez ruled out of Wolverhampton Wanderers clash

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Enzo Fernandez has a hernia and will miss the Blues' trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve.

The Argentine started the West Londoners' quarter-final clash with Eddie Howe's Newcastle United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, before being substituted after 32 minutes.

Fernandez went straight down the tunnel at Stamford Bridge after being replaced but returned to the sidelines to watch his side set up a tie with Middlesbrough in the final four in January.

The Blues initially stated that "illness" was the reason why Fernandez could not continue against the Magpies last time out, but Pochettino has shed further light on the situation ahead of the trip to Molineux.

Pochettino has confirmed that the midfielder has a hernia, meaning that he will play no part in the West Midlands on Sunday afternoon.

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"Enzo (Fernandez) is going to be out of the game against Wolverhampton," Pochettino told the media on Friday. "We are going to see if he can be involved again as soon as possible.

"You already have the information that it was a hernia and he also didn't feel well. We are going to give treatment with the doctor.

"For me, it is not going to be a problem. I think he is going to be as soon as possible again with the group."

With Pochettino appearing confident that Fernandez's issue is not serious, the midfielder could return to Chelsea's matchday squad for the visit of Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

The World Cup winner has featured in 16 of the Blues' 17 Premier League contests so far in 2023-24, netting a brace in the victory over Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month.

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Since securing a £107m switch from Portuguese giants Benfica in January, Fernandez has appeared in 42 matches for the 2021 Champions League winners, finding the net on three occasions.

Chelsea will be boosted by the return of fellow midfielder Romeo Lavia at Molineux on Christmas Eve, with the Belgium international ready for his Blues debut after sustaining an ankle injury in September.

News concerning the fitness of Reece James is less promising, however, as the right-back faces up to four months on the sidelines following a hamstring operation.

Pochettino's men will be aiming to secure successive top-flight victories for the first time since October when they make the trip to Wolves on Sunday afternoon.