Due to the injury situation, Mauricio Pochettino has hinted a new role for Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea.

Due to the injury situation, Mauricio Pochettino has hinted a new role for Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea.

Following Carney Chukwuemeka‘s injury, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that Enzo Fernandez should be shifted into a more advanced role.

The Blues were already without star summer signing, who is out until December Christopher Nkunku, and have now lost Chukwuemeka, who injured his knee against West Ham on Saturday.

To make matters worse, Mykhailo Mudryk, who replaced the teenager at the London Stadium, has now suffered an injury in training, leaving Chelsea with few choices in the offensive positions. Due to the injury situation, Mauricio Pochettino has hinted a new role for Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea.

While Pochettino is eager to bring in reinforcements before the transfer window ends, he claims his team will need to ‘compensate’ in that area and is considering moving Fernandez forward.

Pochettino has already given the Argentine World Cup winner, who arrived from Benfica in a £107 million transfer in January, more latitude and liberty to roam this season, but he might potentially be pushed even further forward with Conor Gallagher another option he is considering.

When asked how he plans to replace Chukwuemeka and Nkunku, Pochettino told Sky Sports: ‘We have Gallagher and Enzo, who we can deploy as an eight or a ten. We’ll figure it out.

‘We are a little bit unlucky since we experienced a few injuries in that area – a critical position and key individuals. But it is possible. We must accept it and remain optimistic.’

On the decision to allow Fernandez more freedom, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said, ‘He is a No 8’. When we initially met him, one of the first things we did was talk about his position and how he feels comfortable, and then we talked about his quality.

‘He requires some leeway. He has the ability to assist and shoot from outside the box.’

Chelsea have yet to win a game under their new manager, drawing at Liverpool and losing away to West Ham, but there have been plenty of encouraging signs, and Pochettino is optimistic that results will follow – starting against Luton Town on Friday.