Emi Martinez was stretchered off on Saturday afternoon towards the end of Chelsea’s win over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and now, his diagnosis has been revealed.

Pedro Neto scored twice as Chelsea secured a second successive win in the Premier League. The Blues kept their first clean sheet in the Premier League since January, ending a run of 23 games without one.

Indeed, the last time Chelsea kept a clean sheet was Liam Rosenior’s first league game in charge, a 2-0 win over Brentford nine months ago. But it came at a cost, with Martinez suffering a nasty injury.

Emi Martinez diagnosis revealed as Chelsea star set for operation

With Chelsea leading 1-0, Everton had a dangerous free-kick towards the final 15 minutes of the match. Martinez and Jarrad Branthwaite collided at full pelt, and Chelsea’s World Cup winner came off far worse.

The former Aston Villa and Arsenal goalkeeper was down for the best part of 10 minutes, before being ushered onto a stretcher and taken off. Mike Penders made his Premier League debut for Chelsea.

Xabi Alonso confirmed after the match that Martinez had been taken straight to hospital, and that he was conscious when he left. Now, Argentine reporter Gaston Edul says on X that he will undergo jaw surgery.

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“Dibu Martínez is doing well and is conscious in the hospital. The results of the head tomography and the back and neck studies came back fine. He has a bone injury in the jaw. That’s why he stayed in hospital.”

Edul continued, confirming an operation is required for Martinez’s jaw injury: “The important exams went well for him. The lesser evil: he has a jaw injury, and they’re going to operate on him,” he concluded.

While Martinez’s time on the sidelines is yet unknown, Edul’s report is at least positive in that the stopper has suffered the lesser of two evils. Martinez will likely return in a mask when he is given the all-clear.

But for now, Penders is set for a massive chance. The Belgian helped Chelsea get over the line on the weekend and was always likely to start against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

However, Penders – who became Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper when he came on against Everton – now has a huge chance to impress. Chelsea host Manchester United next weekend.