Chelsea goalkeeper Emi Martinez is set for surgery on a jaw injury sustained in a sickening collision during Saturday's 2-0 win at Everton. The 34-year-old Argentine clashed heads with defender Jarrad Branthwaite, leading to a lengthy stoppage and his eventual departure to hospital.

Martinez was stretchered off the pitch with his hands on his head after receiving extensive on-field treatment for more than ten minutes. Head coach Xabi Alonso confirmed the player was conscious when he left Goodison Park and had undergone precautionary tests for his head, back and neck. "It was a concussion, but beyond that I do not know," Alonso said. "We need to wait. Hopefully it will not be too serious."

Medical prognosis and absence timeline

The impact caused a jaw injury requiring an operation. Martinez confirmed the procedure had been successful in a social media post early on Sunday. "Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well," he wrote. "The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we'll be back."

Due to the concussion and the subsequent surgery, Martinez is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks. This rules him out of Chelsea's next Premier League match at home to Tottenham on October 24 and the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at Liverpool on October 28. His availability for the following league game against Manchester United on October 31 is also in serious doubt.

Impact on Chelsea and team response

The injury forced a Premier League debut for 21-year-old Belgian youth international Mike Penders, who came on to help secure the clean sheet. "Mike has personality. He's brave and we have full trust with him. He did well," Alonso said of his deputy. Match-winner Pedro Neto, who scored both goals in the victory, paid tribute to his teammate.

The incident highlights the Football Association's stringent head injury protocols, which mandate a 24-hour monitoring period and a six-stage 'return to play' programme for any player diagnosed with a concussion. The win moved Chelsea up to fourth in the Premier League table with 13 points from seven games, eight points behind leaders Manchester City. Top scorer João Pedro, with five goals this season, will be a key figure as the squad handles this period without their first-choice goalkeeper. The team's next challenge is a London derby against Tottenham, who currently sit bottom of the standings.

This story first appeared at Daily Mirror