According to a report by Football London on Sunday, 18 October 2026, after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured jaw he suffered in Chelsea's 2-0 Premier League win over Everton, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has stated his intention to return to action within a few weeks.

From his hospital bed, the Argentinean international shared the encouraging update following Saturday's collision at Hill Dickinson Stadium with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

Midway through the second half, Martinez hurt himself, and the game had to be stopped for about eight minutes so that Chelsea's medical staff could treat him on the field.

After a long wait, the 34-year-old was transferred to the hospital on a stretcher and later had jaw surgery to fix the damage.

"Thanks to everyone for the messages, the operation went well," Martinez wrote on Instagram to update his condition.

"Winning with a clean sheet is the most important thing," he continued. We will return in a few weeks, emoji style.

Although his exact return date is dependent on his recovery following the operation, his message offers encouragement to Chelsea supporters.

With goals from Pedro Neto in each half, Xabi Alonso's Chelsea won a crucial match on Merseyside. The win was significant because it gave Chelsea their first Premier League clean sheet of the season and moved them up to fourth place in the league.

Because Martinez will not be available to play next weekend when Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur, Mike Penders will likely get a start.

After joining the club for £17 million from Genk, the 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper made his third appearance in a starting role against Everton, coming on as a substitute for Martinez.

Penders made 33 league appearances during his loan spell at Strasbourg last season, helping the French club to eighth place in Ligue 1.

"Mike has personality," Alonso said after the game, expressing his faith in the youthful goalkeeper. We have complete faith in him because he is courageous. When he came on, he performed admirably.

The manager of Chelsea also emphasized the value of having players available to play a key role at any time.