Mauricio Pochettino issues injury update ahead of midweek clash

Mauricio Pochettino confirms Enzo Fernandez will not be available against Crystal Palace.

The Blues manager has given an early fitness update ahead of the clash against the Eagles tonight at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea would be without 11 first-team players through injury and suspension for the London derby.

Pochettino has ruled out the availability of Enzo Fernandez and Lesley Ugochukwu as the former is suffering a hernia issue that kept him out in the last game.

Cole Palmer is suspended following his fifth yellow card of the season whereas Conor Gallagher is likely to feature in the midfield again.

Pochettino said: “No, Enzo, no. But Mo, hopefully, yes. But he has a high fever.

“I hope that tomorrow he can train a little bit and be ready for Palace.

“With Lesley, we will assess him but I think he felt his hamstring again. I said in the press conference it is important how we reintroduce players, but we were forced because of the problem with Moises to play Lesley.

“It’s a difficult situation because now he’s a player we’re going to miss, we hope not for too much (time). We need all of the players.”