Emi Martinez expects to return to action for Chelsea in a few weeks after undergoing surgery following a clash of heads during the club’s 2-0 Premier League win at Everton.
The Argentina goalkeeper was carried from the pitch on a stretcher after colliding with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to claim a free-kick into the penalty area.
Branthwaite returned to his feet after receiving treatment, but Martinez was attended to by paramedics before being taken to hospital with concussion. Media reports in Argentina said he had suffered a jaw injury.
Martinez later posted a photograph of himself in a hospital gown and said the operation had been successful.
“Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well,” the 34-year-old wrote. “The most important thing is that we won and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we’ll be back.”
The injury meant Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso had to introduce Mike Penders for his Premier League debut. The 21-year-old Belgian youth international helped the visitors record their first league clean sheet since January.
Penders is likely to remain in goal until Martinez is cleared to resume training, with Chelsea facing a busy run of fixtures. Tottenham Hotspur visit next Saturday, before a League Cup fourth-round tie at Liverpool on October 28 and a home league match against Manchester United three days later.
