Mauricio Pochettino’s hopes of holding on to his job as Chelsea’s head coach have been complicated by Enzo Fernández needing to undergo surgery on a groin injury that will rule out the £106.8m midfielder for the rest of the season.

Fernández has an inguinal hernia and the operation is set to sideline the Argentinian for the final six games, beginning with Saturday night’s trip to Aston Villa. The former Benfica midfielder has clearly been hampered by the injury and having surgery now will keep him in contention to play at this summer’s Copa América.

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The news is a blow for Pochettino, already dealing with an extensive injury list, as he looks to convince the club’s hierarchy to give him another season. Pochettino, appointed on a two-year deal last summer, is under growing pressure after Chelsea followed their FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester City with a 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Although it was said to be business as usual at the club this week, sources believe that the Argentinian is at risk of being fired this summer. Pochettino’s chances of staying could hinge on whether he leads his young side into Europe. Chelsea, who are ninth after spending more than £1bn on transfers under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake capital, are six points below sixth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand.

Pochettino has had to cope without several key players this season and is short of options in midfield, with Lesley Ugochukwu and Roméo Lavia long-term absentees. The loss of Fernández, who has flattered to deceive since joining from Benfica in January 2023, leaves Chelsea with Conor Gallagher and Moisés Caicedo as their only fit midfielders.

The setbacks have mounted for Pochettino but he has not lost the dressing room. The hierarchy remains determined to give him until the end of the season and assess the situation in the summer. However there have been murmurings of discontent about some of Pochettino’s tactical choices – a criticism that the former Tottenham manager could counter by pointing out that he has had little say over the construction of the squad.