According to Evening Standard on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Chelsea have received conflicting injury news ahead of their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur. While Emi Martinez and Reece James are set for periods of absence, Pep Chavarria could return for the derby.

Martinez has a broken jaw sustained during his side’s 2-0 win against Everton after he collided with Jarrad Branthwaite. He had to be stretchered off the pitch and then received surgery, which he announced that it was successful.

The goalkeeper will be sidelined for a number of weeks and will return to action in November. As a result, Alonso has to make a crucial decision during the next few weeks while they wait for Martinez to return to full fitness.

Chavarria was also forced off during their 2-2 draw with Everton after he sustained an injury during a training session the day before. Chelsea’s manager revealed that they are still assessing the extent of the wing-back’s injury.

The 24-year-old could be fit for Chelsea’s home match against Tottenham on October 24. If he can quickly overcome the injury, he might play in the derby.

James is due to spend a significantly longer period of time on the sidelines. The Blues right-back has a knee injury that he sustained during a training session after previously dealing with hamstring problems. He will also require surgery and will spend approximately three months on crutches.

Consequently, he might not be ready to return until January. This will present Alonso with a dilemma as he is a player that he can utilize in multiple positions. His absence will leave an open door for opponents and limit his alternatives at both right-back and midfield.

As a result of these challenges, Alonso has to make the most difficult decisions regarding his starting lineups ahead of the busy fixtures that lie ahead. Chavarria’s potential addition will strengthen their hand in the derby,

but James and Martinez’s injuries will significantly hamper their chances of competing against their cross-city rivals.

The Blues will now have to identify alternatives for their injured players in order to maintain their incredible start to the season and achieve a positive result against Tottenham.