"It will take a few weeks. I hope less rather than more, we have to wait." Speaking to Foot Mercato, Xabi Alonso said Emiliano Martínez is recovering well after jaw surgery, but Chelsea still expect him to miss Saturday's derby with Tottenham and at least 40 days of competition. The goalkeeper, who is 34, had surgery after a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite last week.
Mike Penders is set for the derby
Alonso's update points Chelsea towards Mike Penders, who is set to start against Tottenham. Alonso also said he is "a goalkeeper for the present and for the future", which fits a simple reality here. Penders has only 1 Premier League appearance this season, while Martinez has already made 6.
The coverage around the injury varies a little on the timeline, with one report putting the absence at four to six weeks and another saying a few weeks, but the club's planning has the same shape. Martinez has been one of Chelsea's better performers this season, with a 7.00 Premier League rating, and losing him before Chelsea vs Tottenham is a real setback.
Chelsea's record gives the derby some edge
Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League with 13 points from 7 matches, and they have won each of the last seven meetings with Tottenham. They have also lost just once at Stamford Bridge to Tottenham since 1990, which gives the derby a familiar backdrop even without their first-choice goalkeeper.
Tottenham arrive 16th with 6 points from 7 matches, so the pressure is already on them before the injury news even enters the picture. Chelsea's mixed recent league run, WWLDL, is not the cleanest form line, but it still leaves them in a stronger position than their visitors.
Martinez's recovery is the main story for now, and Chelsea will keep waiting on a clearer return window before the weekend. The immediate job is already set, and Penders is the one expected to take it on against Tottenham on 24 October.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
