Enzo Fernandez's absence explained for Chelsea's match against Bournemouth

Enzo Fernandez caught everyone by surprise when he was missing from Chelsea's matchday squad for their Premier League clash against Bournemouth on Saturday night.

The Blues travelled to the Vitality having won just one of their first three league games under Enzo Maresca.

There was much excitement ahead of kick-off with deadline day signing Jadon Sancho on the bench and ready to make his debut, though yet again several big names were missing.

Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Malo Gusto are all sidelined with injury, with Axel Disasi taking the place of the latter at right-back in one of two changes to the starting XI.

The other saw youngster Renato Veiga, making his first league start, in for Fernandez, with Moises Caicedo wearing the captain’s armband instead of the Argentina midfielder.

There was no prior indication that the 23-year-old would be unavailable for the Bournemouth clash, especially after he made it through the international break unscathed.

Team sheet for Bournemouth (A). 📋#CFC | #BOUCHE pic.twitter.com/Yzfj2OmXgE

Just prior to kick-off Chelsea confirmed reports that both Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were missing due to illness.

Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell were other notable absentees for Chelsea, the latter after being reintegrated into the first-team after he failed to secure a transfer away from Stamford Bridge.

As for Bournemouth, they also made two changes, one of them enforced with on loan Kepa Arrizabalaga unable to face his parent club so Mark Travers replaced him in goal.

It remains to be seen whether Fernandez or any of Chelsea’s other absentees will be fit in time for their next clash at West Ham next Saturday.

More to follow…

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