Martinez hopeful of early return from broken jaw injury at Chelsea

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 31 Oct, 12:43 · Archive

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is optimistic of recovering from his broken jaw sooner than expected after surgery.

Emiliano Martinez is hoping to return from his broken jaw injury ahead of schedule. The Chelsea goalkeeper suffered the injury after colliding with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite during Chelsea's 2-0 away win at Everton two weeks ago and was stretchered off the pitch. He has since undergone surgery.

Martinez initially said he would be out for 'a few weeks', a timescale manager Xabi Alonso backed up ahead of Chelsea's subsequent 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. However, Standard Sport now understands there is optimism that Martinez could recover and return to action ahead of that schedule, providing a welcome boost to the club.

Martinez has been instrumental to Chelsea since arriving from Aston Villa for £7.5million over the summer and started six successive Premier League games before his injury. The 34-year-old Argentine goalkeeper has also revealed he has been playing through a separate long-term injury since before the World Cup. He broke a finger in Aston Villa's Europa League final victory over Freiburg in May but decided against undergoing surgery at that time to ensure he could play for Argentina at the World Cup.

Martinez told Argentine journalist Gaston Edul that the finger injury left him 'seeing stars' when diving and will never return to normal. He played the World Cup final in a specially modified Adidas glove, where Argentina lost to Spain, but admitted the injury affected him significantly throughout the tournament. He remains in daily pain and will require surgery on the finger in future.

In Martinez's absence from the Chelsea squad, 21-year-old Belgian shot-stopper Mike Penders has deputised. Penders impressed in Chelsea's penalty shootout exit to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, saving Ryan Gravenberch's penalty. He did, however, score an own goal against Spurs on his full Premier League debut.

How it is being reported

• Emi Martinez opens up on horrific injury that made him cry when he saw the x-rayEmiliano Martinez suffered physically and emotionally in order to play at the 2026 World Cup, where he almost helped Argentina retain their crown - losing in the final to SpainMirror Sport · 31 Oct, 12:33
• Emiliano Martinez reveals his finger 'won't ever return' to normal after Chelsea goalkeeper played through injury at the World CupThe 34-year-old told Argentine journalist Gaston Edul's YouTube channel that he cried after seeing x-rays having feared he would be ruled out of Argentina's World Cup title defence.Daily Mail Sport · 30 Oct, 23:19
• Chelsea: Emi Martinez reveals long-term injury worry as surgery decision madeArgentina shot-stopper broke a finger before the World CupEvening Standard · 30 Oct, 21:25
• Emi Martinez pushing for early Chelsea injury return from broken jawGoalkeeper is optimistic of recovering sooner than expectedEvening Standard · 29 Oct, 14:47

In this story: Emiliano Martinez · Chelsea · Jarrad Branthwaite · Everton · Xabi Alonso · Mike Penders · Aston Villa · Argentina

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log