Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is set to have “surgery” on a hernia injury on Friday, according to journalist Hernan Castillo.

There have been rumours for a number of weeks that the Argentinian international has been playing through the pain barrier, using injections in order to get through games, but Castillo says a decision has now been made to undergo the knife:

“Breaking news: Enzo Fernandez will have surgery tomorrow for an inguinal hernia because the discomfort he suffers is great. His idea is to be recovered to play the Copa America.”

As Castillo mentions, Fernandez is only expected to be back in time for Argentina’s group games in the Copa America in late June. That would consequently mean he will miss all of Chelsea’s remaining fixtures this season.

Which games will Fernandez potentially miss?

The Blues still have six league matches remaining. They will take on Aston Villa on Saturday night before two London derbies in a row against Tottenham and West Ham.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side then have two away games against Nottingham Forest and Brighton before ending the season with a game at Stamford Bridge versus Bournemouth.

Chelsea now have 11 players on the treatment table

Fernandez joins a long list of first-team stars on the sidelines. Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Wesley Fofana (ACL) have already been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Robert Sanchez and Cole Palmer (illness) are the closest to making their comebacks, while Malo Gusto (knee), Reece James (hamstring), Ben Chilwell (knee) and Levi Colwill (toe) could still be weeks away from making their return to fitness.

There is no return date given for the likes of Lesley Ugochukwu and Christopher Nkunku, who both have hamstring injuries. The former hasn’t played since Christmas Eve while the latter hasn’t featured since the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.