Enzo Maresca has revealed that Enzo Fernandez is an early injury doubt for Chelsea’s Champions League game against Ajax on Wednesday.

Fernandez withdrew from international duty with Argentina last weekend due to a knee injury and was unable to take part in training after returning to Chelsea this week.

The 24-year-old was then left out of the matchday squad for Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

‘Enzo had small problem,’ Maresca said after Chelsea’s victory.

‘A small problem that at the moment we are not able to say if he can be available for Ajax or not.’

Maresca, meanwhile, made three substitutes at half time after a poor first-half display against Forest.

Romeo Lavia, Alejandro Garnacho and Andrey Santos were all replaced with Moises Caicedo, Jamie Gittens and Marc Guiu brought on.

Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James all found the net in the second half to secure Chelsea’s 3-0 win.

‘I always try to do my best. Sometimes I’m wrong, sometimes I’m right. But in this moment, it’s more about protecting players. We already knew that Romeo [Lavia] was not going to play 90 minutes,’ Maresca said when asked about his three substitutions.

‘Romeo’s plan was 45 minutes. Moi [Caicedo] cannot play 90 minutes, so the decision was to start with Moi or start with Romeo. And Romeo needs confidence, he needs a boost, he needs to start the game. So that was the plan. Then Garna [Garnacho] did a fantastic game against Liverpool. So it was good to give him again the chance.

‘Jamie [Gittens] came on, he was okay. And I think Marc Guiu was good. But also we planned the game expecting them back four, not back five. I think back four with Joao Pedro at No.9 is better. With back five, Joao Pedro at No.9 is not… if you remember, West Ham away, back five, we played Liam Delap and Joao Pedro against a back five. So we expected them back four, but they were back five. And then after half-time, we changed.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

‘The manager will be incensed.’

Palmer is not expected to return for another six weeks.

The midfielder starts among the subs.

Enzo Maresca will serve a touchline ban against Nottingham Forest (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca will serve a one-match touchline ban after his sending-off against Liverpool earlier this month.

The Football Association s…

The Blues have injury problems to contend with.

Alejandro Garnacho believes Chelsea would have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford if Robert Sanchez had not been sent off early on.

Chelsea suffered a 2-1 defeat to United last month in a game where they were reduced to 10 men following Sanchez’s red card in the fifth minute.

Casemiro was sent off for United in first half injury time but Chelsea were unable to recover from going two goals down in the opening 45 minutes.

Enzo Maresca’s side are now looking to build on their 2-1 win against Liverpool before the international break as they travel to Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Garnacho, who joined Stamford Bridge in a £40 million deal from United in the summer transfer window, believes Chelsea have suffered ‘bad luck’ with red cards this season and is confident his new side can challenge for trophies.

‘It’s a hard moment for them [Forest] but you never know in football,’ Garnacho said in an interview with Chelsea.

‘They may not have been winning games but they have good players and will want to win. We have to be ready.

‘We are in a good position in the league [five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal], especially after we had a little bit of bad luck with red cards.

‘For example, the game against Brighton, we should win that game. And the game at United, if we play 11 against 11, I feel we would be on top.

‘But we are okay. I think it’s important to build from the last win against Liverpool and try to win again to be up there.

‘I think we have a team that can fight in the league and for the rest of the trophies, and we want to try to win at least one trophy. Because of the moment of the team, of the club, I think we can fight for the big trophies. It’s the dream we have.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

West Ham sacked Graham Potter just three weeks ago (Photo: Getty)

Graham Potter is set to be appointed as the new manager of Sweden – just three weeks after being sacked by West Ham.

According to multiple reports, the former Chelsea…

The Blues are on the road again this weekend.

‘He needs to be out for six more weeks.’

‘Love him already!’

Alan Shearer wasn’t happy about Enzo Maresca’s red card (Photo: BBC)

Alan Shearer was among those to criticise Enzo Maresca’s red card after Chelsea’s epic 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Premier League.

Chelsea cond…

‘I see him at Real Madrid.’

Wayne Rooney discussing Chelsea’s win over Liverpool (Picture: BBC)

Wayne Rooney says Liverpool have a ‘clear problem’ after they suffered a third successive defeat to Chelsea to slip behind new Premier League leaders Ars…

Gary Neville discussing Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool (Picture: Sky Sports)

Gary Neville hailed Moises Caicedo as ‘the best midfielder in the Premier League’ after Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool.

Chelsea infli…

Liverpool boss Arne Slot (Picture: Getty)

Arne Slot said he is still having to manage Milos Kerkez’s minutes after the Liverpool defender was brought off early during their 2-1 defeat against Chelsea.

Kerkez has endured a tricky sta…

‘He brought something to that front line and they are now missing that.’

Marc Cucurella assisted Chelsea’s winner vs Liverpool (Photo: Getty)

Marc Cucurella says Chelsea scored their last-minute winner against Liverpool by exploiting the weakness of one Reds star.

Liverpool were condemned to a third-defe…

Slot was not happy with two of his players.

Chelsea host the champions in west London.

A huge clash awaits in west London this evening.

Joao Pedro is in contention to start for Chelsea’s Premier League match against Liverpool on Saturday.

The 24-year-old started on the bench for Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Benfica in Champions League on Tuesday night and was sent off in injury time after being brought on as a substitute in the second half.

Pedro has been playing through injury with Enzo Maresca revealing last month that the striker had asked not to play in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Brentford.

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed this week that Pedro would not be part of Brazil’s squad for their upcoming friendlies against South Korea and Japan during the international break.

‘Joao Pedro has a minor physical problem and is not 100 per cent,’ Ancelotti said.

‘We prefer that he be able to recover his best level calmly during this international break. So it’s a physical problem.’

However, Pedro took part in Chelsea’s training session on Thursday and is expected to feature against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Maresca, meanwhile, has said he will be without ‘seven or eight’ players for the game against the Premier League champions.

‘Cole [Palmer] is still out,’ Maresca said on Friday. ‘Trevoh [Chalobah] is also suspended], and we have seven or eight players out for tomorrow’s game.

‘I don’t have any update at the moment [on Palmer]. We have a meeting this week to see how he is and we will then decide.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Maresca has some big decisions to make this week.

Hugo Ekitike remains an injury doubt for Liverpool’s Premier League match against Chelsea on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Ekitike was forced off in the 68th minute of Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League this week with a hamstring injury.

The Premier League champions will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson due to a hamstring issue, while Federico Chiesa is also a doubt for the trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

‘Alisson is not a part of the squad tomorrow,’ Slot said on Friday morning.

‘And he’s not going to travel to Brazil as well for the national team. So, he will be out for Saturday.

‘Hugo is going to train today again and let’s see where he is, and the same can be said for Federico. We have to wait and see after the session where exactly they are.’

Asked for a timescale on Alisson’s return, Slot said: ‘That depends also on how fast a recovery goes.

‘So, Saturday it’s clear, he’s not going to play for Brazil, and I would be surprised if he would be there in the first game after the international break.

‘But from there on, sometimes things can go a bit faster or a bit slower. It’s always difficult to say the amount of days and weeks, but for the upcoming games he will not be part of us or the Brazil team.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Hugo Ekitike remains an injury doubt for Liverpool’s Premier League match against Chelsea on Saturday.

The 23-year-old Ekitike was forced off in the 68th minute of Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League this week with a hamstring injury.

The Premier League champions will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson due to a hamstring issue, while Federico Chiesa is also a doubt for the trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

‘Alisson is not a part of the squad tomorrow,’ Slot said on Friday morning.

‘And he’s not going to travel to Brazil as well for the national team. So, he will be out for Saturday.

‘Hugo is going to train today again and let’s see where he is, and the same can be said for Federico. We have to wait and see after the session where exactly they are.’

Asked for a timescale on Alisson’s return, Slot said: ‘That depends also on how fast a recovery goes.

‘So, Saturday it’s clear, he’s not going to play for Brazil, and I would be surprised if he would be there in the first game after the international break.

‘But from there on, sometimes things can go a bit faster or a bit slower. It’s always difficult to say the amount of days and weeks, but for the upcoming games he will not be part of us or the Brazil team.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.