Xabi Alonso has confirmed Emi Martinez was hospitalised for precautionary checks after being stretchered off with a head injury midway through Chelsea’s defeat of Everton.

An important win for the Blues was overshadowed by a nasty second-half incident, which saw Martinez collide with Jarrad Branthwaite in a full-throttle fifty-fifty challenge.

Both players went down and required treatment, but the Argentine clearly came off worse.

He was tended to by trainers and paramedics on the pitch for about ten minutes before leaving the pitch on a stretcher with an apparent head in jury and being rushed to hospital. Branthwaite was able to play on.

Speaking at full-time, Alonso delivered an encouraging update on Martinez’s condition, saying his hospital trip was precautionary.

“As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious,” Alonso confirmed. “Now he is in the hopsital doing precautionary tests. Let’s see, but this is what I know so far.”

Emi Martinez was stretchered off in the second half at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

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Martinez had put in an impressive performance before being forced off, saving well from Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry in the first half.

He was replaced by Mike Penders, who also impressed in his cameo as Chelsea kept a clean sheet for the first time since mid-January.

Pedro Neto scored both of Chelsea’s goals on the day, and dedicated the result to Martinez after the fact.

“Shame for Emi but we wish him all the best,” said Neto at full-time. “This win is for him. We are really happy, but our heads are with him. Emi deserved (the clean sheet) so we are really happy.”

Chelsea are expected to issue an update on Martinez’s condition in due course.