Emi Martinez suffered a serious head injury in Chelsea's Premier League win over Everton which could keep him out for a period

Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez will be following a six-stage 'return to play' to deem if he can feature against Tottenham after suffering a head injury. The Argentine was stretchered off in his side's 2-0 win over Everton after a clash off heads with Jarrad Branthwaite.

The Premier League fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium was paused for roughly 10 minutes in the second half while he was treated on the pitch before being taken to hospital. When asked for an update on his condition Xabi Alonso said: "What we know is that he left the stadium conscious.

"Right now he's in the hospital doing precautionary tests. So we need to wait, and, for sure, hopefully it won't be too bad, but we need to wait at the moment." It is highly likely that the collision has given Martinez a concussion and if that is the case, he will supervised for 24 hours before then beginning a six-stage 'return to play' process.

The first part is a 48-hour period of rest with minimal physical and 'cognitive' activities, such as working and using screens.

Under the FA's recommendation, that should be followed by "a staged and graduated return to full daily activities". Light football training is allowed under this but nothing should be done to "worsen existing symptoms more than mildly or produce new symptoms".

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The following four stages is football-specific exercise, non-contact training, full-contact training, and then finally a full return to play. Footballers deemed to have suffered a concussion very rarely play the following game with Nico Gonzalez suffering that injury this season and missing Newcastle United's next game.

Chelsea welcome London rivals Tottenham to Stamford Bridge for their next Premier League clash with that taking place under the lights next Saturday.

While there is some uncertainty surrounding Alonso will definitely be without club captain Reece James for that game after he underwent knee surgery earlier this week that is expected to keep him out for a few months.

Alonso has at least welcomed Moises Caicedo back into the fold with the midfield maestro key to their 2-0 win at Everton. Martinez also made some good saves before his premature departure with Mike Penders helping see out the victory.

It was a brace from Pedro Neto that saw Chelsea claim three points with the Portugal international dedicating it to both of their goalkeepers.

He said: "In his [Emiliano Martinez's] honour. We needed that. We did a very good game. Emi deserved this. Mike [Penders] deserved this as well. We are really happy."