Why Enzo Fernandez will be missing from Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea squad vs Leicester City

Mauricio Pochettino will have to do without Enzo Fernandez when Chelsea take on Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon. A regular in the Blues team ever since his transfer to the club from Benfica in January 2023, the World Cup winner will be a big miss in the middle of the park for Chelsea as they look to secure another visit to Wembley.

Starting to build up a good understanding with Moises Caicedo in midfield, Fernandez's absence opens the door for one of his fellow midfielders to start against the Championship club. The reason for the Argentine's absence from the Chelsea squad on Sunday is due to suspension.

In the FA Cup, players who pick up two yellow cards in the competition are suspended for the following match. Fernandez has now reached that total after seeing yellow in the team's brilliant FA Cup fourth round replay win over Aston Villa and then in the following round at home to Leeds United.

Both of the player's bookings were avoidable as he was shown a yellow card for taking his shirt off after scoring a sumptuous free-kick at Villa Park, before then receiving a caution for dissent in the victory over Leeds. The player's absence for the Leicester game will give him the opportunity to have a bit of a breather and also give one of his teammate's a chance in the side.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference at Cobham on Friday afternoon, Pochettino was asked if the 23-year-old's suspension would allow the Argentina international to have a rest. He said: «Yes and then it is the international break and he's going to travel with national team. Of course always want to have your best players but I think we have players to replace him and perform in the same way.»

Mudryk in, Chukwuemeka