With difficult matches to come, there will be questions over whether Mike Penders, who became Chelsea's youngest goalkeeper to play in the Premier League at the age of 21, is ready for the demanding run of fixtures ahead.

That concern would be heightened if tests confirm Emiliano Martinez suffered a concussion, with Premier League protocols typically requiring a minimum 14-day return-to-play process.

Chelsea signed Penders from Genk for £17m in 2024 before loaning him back to the Belgian club. He then spent last season on loan at sister club Strasbourg, where he impressed in both the Conference League and Ligue 1.

Genk have developed a reputation for producing elite goalkeepers, and Penders is frequently compared to Thibaut Courtois by those who know him best.

Like the Real Madrid goalkeeper, Penders stands at 6ft 7in and has recently served as his understudy in the Belgium national team set-up.

He has worked with the same legendary youth goalkeeping coaches, Guy Martens and Gilbert Roex, who also helped develop Koen Casteels, Maarten Vandevoordt, now at RB Leipzig, Lucca Brughmans, who will join Liverpool next summer from Genk, and Nordin Jackers of Club Brugge.

They specialise in developing goalkeepers who are good with their feet, including Penders, who recorded the highest average position while playing out from the back under Rosenior at the Ligue 1 club early last season.

Roex, who has known Penders since his academy days, believes he is capable of matching Courtois' level of success at Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

He said: "We have produced a lot of great goalkeepers, but Mike is the one with the potential to reach the same level as Thibaut. His sense of calm is gold in goalkeeping."