Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has said he expects to return to action in a few weeks after undergoing surgery on his broken jaw following Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton.
The Argentina international suffered the injury during the second half at Hill Dickinson Stadium when he collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
The clash left Martinez in serious pain and forced the medical team to rush onto the pitch. The match stopped for around eight minutes as doctors attended to the 34-year-old goalkeeper.
Martinez could not continue and eventually left the field on a stretcher. He was taken straight to hospital for further checks.
Chelsea later confirmed that the goalkeeper had undergone successful surgery to repair his broken jaw.
On Sunday, Martinez shared an update with supporters through social media. He posted a picture of himself wearing a hospital gown and thanked everyone who had sent him messages after the injury.
“Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well,” Martinez wrote.
“The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we’ll be back.”
His message offered some relief to Chelsea supporters, who had been concerned about his condition after seeing him carried off the pitch.
Although Martinez did not give an exact date for his return, he sounded confident about recovering within a few weeks.
The injury comes at a difficult time for Chelsea, who have several important matches coming up in the Premier League and Carabao Cup.
The London club will face Tottenham and Manchester United in their next two league matches, with a Carabao Cup meeting against Liverpool between those fixtures.
Martinez is likely to miss all three matches as he continues his recovery.
His absence will give young goalkeeper Mike Penders an opportunity to establish himself in the Chelsea first team.
The 21-year-old replaced Martinez against Everton and made his Premier League debut in difficult circumstances.
Despite coming on unexpectedly, Penders helped Chelsea protect their lead and finish the match without conceding a goal.
Chelsea signed the Belgian goalkeeper from Genk in 2024 for a reported fee of £17 million.
He has already gained some experience in cup matches, but the coming weeks could offer him a bigger challenge as he prepares to face some of England’s strongest teams.
Chelsea manager Alonso expressed his confidence in the young goalkeeper and praised the way he handled the situation against Everton.
“Mike has personality. He’s brave and we have full trust with him. He did well when he came on,” Alonso said.
“He played in the cup games and whenever he’s needed. Like the other players, whenever they are needed they can perform.”
The Chelsea manager also stressed the importance of having players who are ready to contribute whenever the team needs them.
“It’s all about the squad – that all the players feel important and can have their moment whenever they are needed, and that’s very positive.”
Penders will now have the chance to prove himself while Martinez works towards his return.
For Chelsea, the victory over Everton brought three valuable points and a clean sheet, but the injury to their experienced goalkeeper was a major concern.
Martinez’s successful operation and positive message have raised hopes that he will not face a long spell away from football.
Until he returns, Chelsea will depend on Penders to provide cover in goal during a busy period of the season.
