Chelsea learn brutal Enzo Fernandez lesson as Enzo Maresca injury reality laid bare

It was just a matter of time, unfortunately. Enzo Fernandez has suffered an injury while on international duty with Argentina.

While the extent of the knee problem remains unclear at this point, to see the Chelsea midfielder pick up an injury is hardly a surprise. Fernandez has started all 10 of the Blues' matches - in all competitions - so far this season. On top of that, the 24-year-old also started six of Chelsea's seven games in the Club World Cup over the summer, and did come on in the one he was named on the bench for.

To put this into even more perspective, since January 25, Fernandez, who was signed for Chelsea in January 2023 for £106.8million, has started 32 of the Blues' last 38 matches across all formats. It is an extraordinary amount of football for one to play, with so few breaks as well.

• Chelsea's biggest transfer regret revealed with £40m decision as Arsenal reap £52m rewards
• Enzo Fernandez injury update, four stars train - Dream Chelsea week ahead of Nottingham Forest

Chelsea had a 13-day pre-season following their Club World Cup triumph, so the Argentine, along with his teammates, was not allowed much rest at all before getting back down to business. An injury to Dario Essugo earlier in the season - that required surgery - did not help proceedings, with Enzo Maresca then having one less option to rotate Fernandez with.

Andrey Santos has been an option - bar the last two games because of an injury - for Maresca to bring in for a fatiguing Fernandez, but the head coach has persisted with the Argentina international. This of course highlights the significance of the former Benfica midfielder to Chelsea's current setup but you cannot help but feel he has almost been played into an injury.

The added responsibility of the Club World Cup was inevitably going to cause problems for Chelsea, especially because they went all the way in the United States. Cole Palmer is out until next month with a groin problem that has plagued him in the early parts of the season, while there is uncertainty over the fitness of players like Santos, Tosin Adarabioyo, Reece James and Benoit Badiashile.

Liam Delap and Levi Colwill are long-term absentees, with the latter out for the majority of the campaign while the former is due back next month from a hamstring problem. The extremely busy 2025 is starting to really hurt Chelsea now and Maresca accepted this in his pre-Liverpool press conference before the international break.

"If PSG and Chelsea have so many injuries, probably it is some consequence from the Club World Cup," the Chelsea head coach explained. "But it's not a fact, '100%, yes, this is the reason why'."

It has meant Chelsea's squad, even at this early stage of the season, has already been tested. And that will continue to be the case when club football returns at the weekend, with the Blues travelling to Nottingham Forest.

In the win against Liverpool before the international break, Josh Acheampong, who was promoted from the academy to the first-team squad last season, started in the centre of defence - before, ironically, he limped off in the second half. Meanwhile, academy talent Landon Emenalo was named in the matchday squad with Maresca looking at those from Cobham due to the injury crisis at Stamford Bridge.

"It [the injury situation] is difficult, but at the same time we trust the ones that are here," Maresca said pre-Liverpool. "For sure, when you can change one player after four or five games, it is better. The more you play together with teammates, the relationship becomes better.

"Sometimes you don't even need to speak to do something on the pitch - they understood immediately. When you continue to change it is more difficult.

"But I really trust the young players. Not just the young players that we buy but also the young players from the academy. We gave games last year to Josh so that shows that I trust young players."

Hopefully Maresca will be able to name a squad of senior stars in Nottingham at the weekend, but given the injury situation, it would not be surprising to see another academy talent travelling to the City Ground.