Back
Xabi Alonso confirmed Emi Martinez was conscious leaving Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.(Image: TNT Sports)
Xabi Alonso has confirmed Emi Martinez left the stadium conscious after being stretchered off with a head injury.
The Argentinian was carried off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and taken to a local hospital after a sickening clash of heads with Jarrad Branthwaite. The England defender careered into the shot-stopper from a cross, leaving the pair stricken on the turf, forcing the game to be delayed for over 10 minutes.
Martinez made a number of crucial saves in the encounter, including a reflex save from Jack Grealish's volley, which looked set to loop in before the goalkeeper's intervention. Although Chelsea eventually ran out 2-0 winners, the health of the World Cup-winning overshadowed another win for the Spanish tactician.
The Chelsea boss said: "As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious; he's in the hospital doing precautionary tests.Let's see. This is all I know so far."
Chelsea had a slender one-goal lead at the time due to Pedro Neto's opener early on in the second-half. The Portuguese rubber-stamped the points in stoppage-time when he curled home the second.
Mike Penders replaced Martinez for his first Premier League appearance and became Chelsea's youngest top-flight goalkeeper aged just 21. He stood firm in the closing stages to help the Blues to their first clean sheet in nine months.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
We'll bring you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news, visit football.london. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you for the capital's clubs.
Shining a light on the issues fans really want to know about and providing rolling coverage of the latest news, football.london's writers give you the bigger picture on your club by knowing the little details inside-out.
Follow us on X @Football_LDN - for the all latet news as it happens in real time.
Sign up for one off football.london's free daily and weekly newsletters on your club by clicking here.