Enzo Fernandez will not be available for selection again when Chelsea take on Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend.
The Argentine midfielder was last week handed a club-imposed two-game suspension after comments made over the international break regarding his future at the club.
Fernandez missed Chelsea’s 7-0 demolition of Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals as a result and will not play any part against City, either.
As it is an internal suspension, Liam Rosenior is able to revoke his decision, but as things stand, Chelsea will be without their vice-captain for the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side.
Marc Cucurella escaped punishment for comments he made criticising the club’s board in an interview during the international break, and is expected to come back into the side after he was named on the bench against Port Vale.
Fernandez’s absence comes at a time when Rosenior is already facing a number of injury issues.
Defenders Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James are not expected back, while Jamie Gittens remains on the sidelines after suffering another hamstring injury in training.
James, who suffered his own latest hamstring injury just days after signing a new contract at the club, is unlikely to play again until late April at the earliest.
But the Chelsea and England right-back’s worst fears do appear to have been allayed after it was initially suggested that he could struggle to be fit for this summer’s World Cup.
Benoit Badiashile is in contention as he steps up his recovery from illness, while Filip Jorgensen is also likely to be assessed following groin surgery.
Chelsea managed to stop the rot after a run of four successive defeats across all competitions as they secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals, where they will face Leeds at Wembley later this month.
However, Rosenior will know that a failure to get a result at home to title-chasing City will leave Chelsea further behind in the race for Champions League qualification.
The Blues have made the most changes to their starting lineup of any Premier League team so far this season, and with Rosenior looking for a reaction, having won just one of his last five league games, it is likely he will look to switch things up again here.
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Tosin, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro
Doubt: Jorgensen
Injured: James, Gittens, Chalobah, Colwill
Not available: Fernandez
Time and date: 4.30pm BST on Sunday April 12, 2026
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
How to watch: Sky Sports
