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According to a report by Chelsea Football Club's official website on Friday, October 23, 2026, three Chelsea players are set to miss their Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, as manager Xabi Alonso provided updates on the fitness of his squad ahead of the important London derby.
Chelsea will welcome their London rivals to Stamford Bridge hoping to secure another positive result, but the Blues will have to cope without Pep Chavarria, Emmanuel Emegha and Emiliano Martinez, who are all unavailable for the upcoming encounter because of their respective fitness problems.
Alonso confirmed that defender Malo Gusto is available for selection after recovering from his recent fitness concerns, giving Chelsea a boost ahead of the game. However, Chavarria will not be ready to return despite making progress in training, with the manager explaining that the midfielder is gradually increasing his workload but needs more time before he can feature again.
Emegha will also remain unavailable as he continues his recovery after arriving at Chelsea during the summer. The striker has yet to make his debut for the club, but there is hope that he will be able to return to action once he has fully recovered from his injury.
Speaking about the forward's condition, Alonso explained that Emegha is feeling better, although the club will need to wait before deciding when he can return to the team.
Meanwhile, Martinez will miss the Tottenham encounter and is expected to remain on the sidelines for a few weeks after suffering a serious injury against Everton last weekend. The Argentine goalkeeper was stretchered off following a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite and was taken to hospital for further examination before undergoing surgery on his jaw.
Alonso confirmed that Martinez is recovering well after the operation, but Chelsea will continue to monitor his progress before setting a return date. The Blues will now hope their available players can deliver a strong performance against Tottenham while the injured trio continue their recovery away from the pitch.