According to a report by the London Evening Standard on Monday, October 19, 2026, Chelsea have suffered further injury setbacks despite securing consecutive Premier League victories under head coach Xabi Alonso. The latest concerns have emerged ahead of their upcoming London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues followed their impressive 5-1 victory over Bournemouth with a 2-0 win against Everton. However, several players remain sidelined, creating selection challenges for Alonso as he looks to maintain Chelsea’s recent improvement in form.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez sustained a serious facial injury during the Everton encounter after accidentally colliding with Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to clear a dangerous free-kick. Following initial treatment on the pitch, he was stretchered off and taken to hospital for further examinations.

Medical assessments subsequently confirmed that Martinez had suffered a fractured jaw, which required surgery. The goalkeeper later revealed that the operation had been successful and expressed optimism about returning to action within a few weeks. He could potentially make his comeback in November, meaning young goalkeeper Mike Penders is expected to deputise in his absence.

Pep Chavarria was another absentee against Everton, despite travelling with the Chelsea squad. The summer signing from Rayo Vallecano reportedly developed an unspecified problem during training. The club are awaiting further medical assessments before determining when the Spanish wing-back will be available again.

Jorrel Hato replaced Chavarria in the starting lineup and could retain his place against Tottenham if the injured defender fails to recover in time. Chelsea have not yet provided a confirmed date for Chavarria’s return.

Meanwhile, Malo Gusto also missed the Everton fixture. However, Alonso explained that the French defender was absent because of illness rather than an injury. He could recover in time to feature in Saturday’s home clash against Tottenham.

Chelsea captain Reece James is expected to spend a considerably longer period on the sidelines after undergoing successful knee surgery. The defender faces approximately three months out of action, with a potential return scheduled for around the middle of January.

Jamie Gittens is continuing his recovery from an ankle injury sustained while representing England Under-21s. Alonso previously indicated that the winger would need several weeks to regain fitness, making November a possible target for his return.

Emmanuel Emegha also remains unavailable after suffering another hamstring setback. Although the striker has recently resumed training, Alonso has stressed that he must regain full fitness before being considered for competitive action.

Despite these injury concerns, Chelsea have a clear midweek schedule that should provide valuable preparation time ahead of their next fixture. Alonso will hope that some of his recovering players become available as the Blues prepare to welcome Tottenham to Stamford Bridge.