Chelsea have suffered fresh injury setbacks after captain Reece James underwent knee surgery and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez required an operation following a collision during the 2-0 victory over Everton.

James picked up his injury during training and underwent successful minor surgery on October 16, 2026. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that the defender would be unavailable for several weeks, with reports suggesting he could remain out for around three months.

The absence of James is a major concern for Alonso because the England international provides leadership, defensive strength and attacking support from the right side. Chelsea will need other experienced players to step up while their captain focuses on recovery.

The situation has also become more worrying following Martínez's injury against Everton. The goalkeeper suffered a fractured jaw after colliding with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. He underwent successful surgery and is expected to spend time recovering before returning to action.

Chelsea will now have to manage their squad carefully as they prepare for a demanding run of fixtures. The Blues are scheduled to face Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United in upcoming matches, making squad depth particularly important.

Despite the setbacks, Alonso will hope his available players can maintain the team's momentum. Chelsea supporters will be eager to see both James and Martínez recover fully, although the club has not provided a confirmed return date for either player. Read more on: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cq073d9l0ly9o&ved=2ahUKEwiHgIvam8WXAxUG3wIHHctqGX8QFnoECC4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2iFM5CJNO4zxMRUyn3NY9l