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Chelsea were without their top goalscorer for the defeat against Spurs
Joao Pedro was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their London derby defeat to Tottenham and requires further assessment after picking up an injury in training on Friday.
The striker, who has scored five goals and made three assists in the Premier League this season, suffered a knee injury which ruled him out of Chelsea’s match with Brentford ahead of the September international break, and he withdrew from Brazil duty.
He returned to the Chelsea team to score twice against Bournemouth and then played 90 minutes against Everton last weekend. But Pedro is not involved for the clash with Spurs due to another fitness issue, which is being assessed by the club.
Manager Xabi Alonso told Sky Sports: “Yesterday in training he felt something, and at the moment he has some liquid, so we have to do some tests to know how big the injury is. It's disappointing, but we need to carry on.”
Chelsea went on to suffer their first home defeat to Tottenham since 2018 with Joao Pedro’s absence being felt up front, losing 2-0 following a late capitulation.
Speaking more on Pedro’s status after the match, Alonso added: “We don't know yet because he has a lot of fluid, so he felt it yesterday and we need to wait probably until tomorrow to do the test and to know the whole situation and the whole seriousness of the injury and we will know soon enough.”
Alonso made no mention of Pedro’s fitness during his pre-match press conference, but did confirm that Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will be out for several weeks after surgery on a fractured jaw, which brings Mike Penders into the side.
Martinez was taken to hospital following a collision with defender Jarrad Branthwaite during last weekend’s 2-0 win over Everton.
“He’s been better; he had the surgery. We still need to wait. (He will be out for] a few weeks. Hopefully less than more,” Alonso told a press conference on Friday.