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Xabi Alonso has provided a timeline for Emi Martinez’s return after the Chelsea goalkeeper suffered a horror head injury in the 2-0 win at Everton last weekend.
Martinez was rushed to hospital after a sickening collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, clashing heads as Martinez came off his line to collect an aerial cross.
The Argentinian received oxygen on the pitch and was eventually carried off on a stretcher more than eight minutes after the collision. Alonso confirmed after the match that the goalkeeper was conscious.
Martinez underwent successful surgery after the clash, sharing an update from his hospital bed on Instagram to say he expects to be “back in a few weeks”.
And Alonso has now provided more a positive update on Martinez’s recovery, saying: “He’s doing better. He had the surgery and day by day he’s feeling better but we still need to wait.
“Few weeks. Hopefully less than more but we need to wait. The good thing is he’s feeling better. He needs to listen to the opinion of the doctors and his surgeons but considering that it was a bad one, he’s doing good.”
Pep Chavarria remains absent despite upping his training regiment, while Malo Gusto has recovered from illness that forced him to miss the Everton trip. Emmanuel Emegha is also still sidelined.
Martinez’s absence opens up an opportunity for second-choice goalkeeper Mike Penders, 21, to get an extended run in the side, which will start when Chelsea host struggling Tottenham in a London derby on Saturday.
The Belgian, who spent last season on loan at sister club Strasbourg, made his Premier League debut off the bench at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last week and Alonso is confident he is ready to step into the limelight.
“He’s ready,” said Alonso. “He’s been training well, he’s played a couple of cup games where he’s showed he has a good level.
“When he came on against Everton, he showed his personality, his qualities, so that’s why we have a squad to be ready for these kind of situations and we are fully convinced that Mike can play very well.”
Penders has had comparisons to countryman and former Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois, something that Alonso very much recognises.
“A lot [of similarities],” he said. “Not just the nationality, but the stature, both-footed, both dominant in the air. I spoke with Thibaut as well at the World Cup asking about Mike. He said himself he could see resemblances with Mike.
“We need to help him and support him, but he is the keeper for the present and the future.”