Emiliano Martinez has confirmed he expects to be "back in a few weeks" after undergoing successful surgery following a clash of heads during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory at Everton.
The Argentinian goalkeeper collided with Jarrad Branthwaite while challenging for a cross.
After receiving more than eight minutes of on-pitch treatment, he was carried off on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
Sharing an update from his hospital bed on Instagram, Martinez wrote: "Thank you for all the messages, the operation went well." He added: "We’ll be back in a few weeks."
Before the incident, Martinez helped Chelsea claim a 2-0 win, securing their first Premier League clean sheet in nine months.
Speaking to TNT Sports immediately after the match, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said: “As far as I know, he left the stadium conscious.
“Right now he’s in the hospital doing precautionary tests. So let’s see, but this is what I know so far.”
Alonso later added: “It was concussion but more than that I saw only one clip. Hopefully it won’t be too bad but we need to wait.”
Martinez was replaced in the 73rd minute by Belgian reserve goalkeeper Mike Penders, who came on to make his Premier League debut with Chelsea leading 1-0.
Branthwaite was cleared to continue for Everton after team physios performed concussion checks on the pitch.
When play resumed, Pedro Neto scored his second goal of the game to double Chelsea’s lead and seal a 2-0 victory on Merseyside for their first away win of the season.
It also meant that Chelsea kept a clean sheet in the Premier League for the first time in nine months, or since a 2-0 win over Brentford on 17 January.
Match-winner Neto dedicated Chelsea’s win and clean sheet to Martinez. The Portuguese forward told TNT Sports: “We are really pleased. It is a shame for Emi but we wish him all the best. This win is for him. We are really happy but of course our thoughts are for him.
“It’s in his honour. We needed a clean sheet. We needed a good game. Emi deserved this. Mike [Penders] who came in deserved this as well. So we are really happy.”