Chelsea could be without as many as 13 players for Saturday evening's Premier League clash away against Aston Villa.

The West Londoners have confirmed that Enzo Fernandez has undergone surgery to treat a long-standing groin issue and the midfielder will be ruled out for the rest of the season.

Fernandez started in the Blues' heavy 5-0 defeat at London rivals Arsenal on Tuesday, but Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell were both absent due to knee injuries, and the full-back duo join Wesley Fofana (knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh) Reece James (hamstring) and Levi Colwill (toe) in the treatment room.

Chelsea have confirmed that Christopher Nkunku, Lesley Ugochukwu (both hamstring) and Robert Sanchez (illness) are all "in partial team training", but the former two are unlikely to make a return this weekend. Sanchez, however, could be fit to make the matchday squad.

Carney Chukwuemeka and Raheem Sterling have both emerged as doubts as they are "undergoing medical assessment", but Cole Palmer - who was absent from the midweek defeat at Arsenal through illness - has returned to training and is set to be available for selection against Villa.

In the absence of both James and Gusto, Alfie Gilchrist was handed his first Premier League start against Arsenal and the 20-year-old is in contention to retain his spot at right-back, although Axel Disasi is another option at Mauricio Pochettino's disposal if he is not deployed in central defence.

Should Disasi start at right-back, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah will all battle for a start at centre-back, while Marc Cucurella will continue at left-back in the absence of Chilwell.

In the absence of Fernandez, Conor Gallagher is expected to slot into a deeper midfield role alongside Moises Caicedo, with Palmer, pending a late fitness check, set to operate in the number 10 role.

Nicolas Jackson has been made to rue a plethora of missed chances in front of goal in recent weeks, but he is expected to continue as the central striker, while Noni Madueke and Mykhaylo Mudryk could retain their places on the flanks, unless Sterling is deemed fit to feature.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Disasi, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson body check tags ::