Chelsea Injury News Ahead of Tottenham, Fresh Concern Over Emi Martinez and Reece James
Chelsea go into the Tottenham game with a familiar problem, too many absentees and too little certainty. Xabi Alonso has had an uneven start at Stamford Bridge and this is not helping. A few of the missing players should be back quickly. A few will not. One or two remain somewhere in between, which is usually where the trouble starts.
The headline issue is Emi Martinez. Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper suffered the most serious injury of the lot in the 2-0 win over Everton. He was caught heavily by Jarrad Branthwaite, left the pitch on a stretcher and later underwent surgery after breaking his jaw. That is not a minor setback and no amount of optimism changes it.
Alonso said after the match, “What we know is he left the stadium conscious and right now he is in the hospital doing precautionary tests. 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 later gave his own update, saying: “Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation went well.
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“The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we’ll be back.”
That points to a return in November, which means Chelsea will have to manage without him for the immediate run of fixtures. Mike Penders stepped in against Everton and may now be asked to do more than originally planned.
Reece James and Emi Martinez setbacks hurt Chelsea
If Martinez is the latest major blow, Reece James remains the familiar one. Chelsea’s captain was already missing with a hamstring issue, then suffered a knee injury in training just as a comeback had been pencilled in. He has since had an operation and the current expectation is that he will be out until January.
That is a problem on multiple levels. James gives Chelsea authority, quality in possession and leadership. He also gives them a recurring fitness concern, which has become impossible to ignore. Chelsea can cope without him for a game or two. Over a longer stretch, the drop-off becomes more obvious.
Malo Gusto should ease some of that pressure in the short term. He missed the Everton trip through illness rather than injury, which matters. Alonso expects him to be available again for Tottenham. Given that he has also been used in midfield this season, his return broadens the options immediately.
Pep Chavarria and Malo Gusto close to return
Pep Chavarria looks like another who may be back quickly. The wing-back had been set for what would have been his third consecutive league start before a problem in training forced him out of the squad. Alonso explained the situation clearly enough, saying: “[Pep had] a little problem yesterday; we are not certain of the situation yet because it was late. Jorrel is fit and has played there, so it’s just that change.”
That does not sound like a long-term issue. The working assumption is that Chavarria could return against Tottenham, which would be timely given Chelsea’s lack of depth in certain areas. Jorell Hato filled in, but Alonso will want as many natural options available as possible.
So for Chelsea injury news this week, there is at least one small mercy. Gusto and Chavarria look close. Martinez and James do not.
Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha still waiting
Further forward, Chelsea are still waiting on Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha. Gittens suffered an ankle injury while away with England Under-21s and has been out ever since. There is no mystery here, he is simply not ready. Alonso’s latest line was short and to the point: “Not yet. Still a few weeks.” November remains the likely target.
Emegha is more complicated. The summer signing has yet to get going after a hamstring problem in pre-season, and every time it seems a return is getting closer, something else appears. He is back training, but not fully, and Alonso admitted there had been another minor setback.
“He’s not yet [available].” Alonso said. “He felt something [on Thursday], a little thing.
“He’s going to be training next week but he’s still not 100 per cent fit to be playing in the game.
“When he’s fit, he is very special because he’s 195 centimetres (6ft 5ins). He’s quick, he attacks the space, he’s a threat.
“So he needs to be fully fit and at this moment he’s having little things and unfortunately he’s not been available.
“But we are looking forward to that. He feels good and he can help the team but he’s going to be difficult for the defenders when he’s in good shape.”
That is encouraging in one sense, Alonso clearly values the player. It is less encouraging in another, because Chelsea still have no real date for when he will be fully available and reliable.
Chelsea injury news and expected return dates
For now, the picture is simple enough. Emi Martinez, Reece James, Jamie Gittens and Emmanuel Emegha are out. Malo Gusto and Pep Chavarria are pushing to return. Chelsea need some of them back quickly, because Tottenham will test whatever depth Alonso still has left.
Expected return dates, Emi Martinez in November, Reece James in January, Jamie Gittens in November, Emmanuel Emegha in November, Pep Chavarria against Tottenham, Malo Gusto against Tottenham.