According to a report by the Evening Standard on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is reportedly targeting an earlier-than-expected return from his broken jaw injury, potentially delivering a significant boost to manager Xavi Alonso.

The Argentine goalkeeper sustained the injury during Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton two weeks ago. The incident occurred at the Hill Dickinson Stadium when he collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.

Martinez was subsequently stretchered off the pitch and underwent surgery to treat the injury. Following the incident, the goalkeeper indicated that he expected to be “back in a few weeks,” with Alonso offering a similar assessment ahead of Chelsea’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the Evening Standard reports that optimism is increasing within the club over the possibility of Martinez returning to action sooner than initially anticipated.

Since arriving from Aston Villa for £7.5 million during the summer transfer window, Martinez has established himself as an important member of Chelsea’s squad. He started six consecutive Premier League matches before suffering the injury that temporarily ruled him out of action.

In his absence, 21-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders has been handed the responsibility of protecting Chelsea’s goal. The youngster started against Tottenham before featuring again in the Blues’ Carabao Cup encounter with Liverpool.

Penders endured a challenging Premier League debut against Spurs after punching a corner delivered by Mateus Fernandes into his own net. However, he responded positively in the Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool, saving a penalty from Ryan Gravenberch during the shootout, although Chelsea eventually suffered elimination from the competition.

Chelsea are preparing to welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Penders expected to remain the club’s first-choice goalkeeper while Martinez continues his rehabilitation.

The Blues currently occupy fifth position in the Premier League standings and have managed just one clean sheet so far this season, highlighting the defensive challenges facing Alonso’s team.

Martinez’s potential early return would therefore represent encouraging news for the Chelsea manager, particularly as the club seeks greater defensive stability during a demanding period of the campaign.

Nevertheless, Chelsea have yet to announce an official return date for the Argentine international, meaning his availability will depend on his recovery progress and medical assessments.