Premier League 2025-26: Fernandez returns after disciplinary omission; James remains sidelined ahead of Man United clash

By Samira Vishwas On Apr 16, 2026

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has returned to full training and is available for selection for Saturday’s Premier League home match against Manchester United after being dropped for disciplinary reasons, manager Liam Rosenior said on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Argentina World Cup winner was omitted from the squad for the 7-0 win over League One side Port Vale in the FA Cup quarterfinals and last week’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to second-placed Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Fernandez, who had been wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Reece James, had previously said he would assess his future after the World Cup and expressed a desire to live in Madrid, comments for which he later apologised.

“Enzo has been with the group and has been training very well,” Rosenior told reporters on Thursday. “So, it’s business as usual in terms of selection for the game.

“In terms of his training and his application, Enzo has been excellent as well.”

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Rosenior also provided updates on defender Trevoh Chalobah, who has not played since the second leg of Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, and on James, who has been sidelined since the loss to Newcastle United in March.

“Trevoh trained today but not fully; it was modified training,” Rosenior said. “We’ll make a decision on him, but he is very close. Reece is a little further away.”

Chelsea is sixth on 48 points, four behind Liverpool in the Champions League places, having won only one of its last five Premier League matches. Victory over third-placed United would help close the gap in the race for the top five.

“You focus on what you can control, which is our performance,” Rosenior said. “You make sure the attitude, the energy and the application to the game are right. I expect a good performance on Saturday.”

Published on Apr 16, 2026