Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is reportedly set to miss six to seven weeks of action after undergoing surgery for a fractured jaw. Martinez suffered a huge blow to his jaw during the club’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton on Saturday, October 17. The Argentine international suffered the injury during the second half at Hill Dickinson Stadium after a collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to deal with a free-kick into the penalty area.
He required immediate medical attention on the pitch before being carried off on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. He was also assessed for a concussion following the incident. As per reports, the 34-year-old is expected to be sidelined for at least 40 days. However, Chelsea are yet to confirm an official recovery timeline.
Emiliano Martinez provides Injury Update after Successful Surgery
Martinez shared an update from the hospital, confirming that his surgery had gone well, and thanked his supporters for their messages. “Thanks to everyone for the messages, the operation went well. The most important thing is that we won and with a clean sheet. I’ll be back in a few weeks.”
While the goalkeeper’s message suggested confidence about recovering in the coming weeks, the reported six-to-seven week absence could keep him out of several important fixtures for the team. The injury also creates an opportunity for young goalkeeper Mike Penders to feature more regularly. The 21-year-old replaced Martinez against Everton and helped Chelsea secure their first Premier League clean sheet since January.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso praised Penders after the game and highlighted his bravery while expressing confidence in the squad’s depth. Notably, in their upcoming games, Chelsea will be up against Tottenham in the Premier League. They will also clash against Liverpool in the fourth-round clash of League Cup on October 28 as well as another fixture against Manchester United three days later.
