Emiliano Martínez expects to return weeks after surgery

Emiliano Martínez says he expects to return to action in a few weeks after undergoing surgery following his injury against Everton. The Chelsea goalkeeper said on Sunday that the operation had gone well, in a message posted from hospital.

The collision happened in the second half, as he challenged Jarrad Branthwaite. The Argentina international received treatment for eight minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. He was then taken to hospital. Xabi Alonso said Martínez had suffered a concussion, adding that he had left the stadium conscious and was undergoing precautionary tests.

Chelsea’s head coach also acknowledged that he did not yet have a full assessment. “It was a concussion, but beyond that I do not know. I have only seen one clip of the incident, so we need to wait,” he said. After the match, he had also expressed hope that the injury would not be too serious, while stressing that they had to wait.

Martínez, for his part, reassured supporters about the operation: “Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well.” He added that winning the match and keeping a clean sheet mattered, before concluding: “I’ll be back in a few weeks.”

His absence is likely to give Mike Penders an opportunity. The goalkeeper came on for Martínez to make his Premier League debut and looks set to play at least Chelsea’s next three matches. Alonso praised his performance and said the club had full confidence in him. He also underlined the importance of every player being ready to contribute when called upon.

The match ended with a 2-0 Chelsea win over Everton, with Pedro Neto scoring twice. But Martínez’s condition remained the main concern after the game. The return in a few weeks is the timeframe he has given, while assessments and concussion management remain important for what comes next.