Alonso provides fitness update on Martinez - Source: Getty
Alonso provides fitness update on Martinez - Source: Getty
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Emiliano Martinez is 'doing better' after surgery on his fractured jaw. The Argentina international picked up the injury during the Blues' 2-0 win over Everton last Saturday.
Speaking at Cobham before Saturday's Premier League derby against Tottenham, Alonso gave his latest assessment of the 34-year-old shot-stooper.
The Spanish coach revealed that Martinez is set to be unavailable for a few weeks:
“He is doing better. He had the surgery and day by day he is feeling better. We still need to wait. A few weeks. Hopefully less rather than more. We need to listen to the opinion of the doctors as well. Considering it was a bad one, he is doing good.”
The Standard reported this week that Martinez had initially been expected to miss four to six weeks. However, the latest update from Alonso suggests the goalkeeper could be back much earlier.
Martinez picked up the injury after colliding with Jarrad Branthwaite as he came to claim Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick. After a lengthy stoppage he left on a stretcher and was taken to hospital, with Mike Penders coming on.
Chelsea later confirmed a fractured jaw and concussion, and said surgery had been successful. From his hospital bed, Martinez wrote on social media:
“Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well. The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we'll be back.”
In addition to the game against Tottenham, Martinez will miss the trip to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup fourth round and the Premier League home game against Manchester United.
How have Chelsea performed since the arrival of Emi Martinez?
Martinez joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for a reported £7.5m on 30 August, signing a three-year deal, and went straight into the team for the 4-3 home win over Brighton.
The results since have been mixed. Chelsea lost 2-1 at Arsenal, drew 2-2 at home with Hull City and were beaten 3-0 at Brentford before back-to-back wins over Bournemouth (5-1) and Everton (2-0). Alonso's side sit fourth with 13 points from seven games, scoring 17 and conceding 13.
The clean sheet against Everton was Chelsea's first in the Premier League in nine months, ending a run of 23 matches. Martinez has made 25 saves in the league this season, joint-third most in the division.
Penders, 21, became the Blues' youngest Premier League goalkeeper when he came on at Everton as Martinez's replacement. He is expected to start against Tottenham.