Mike Penders makes his first Premier League start for Chelsea as Tottenham visit this evening, but Joao Pedro is a shock absentee.

The 21-year-old became Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper when he replaced the injured Emi Martinez in the second half of last weekend’s 2-0 win at Everton.

Penders is now set for a run in the team as first-choice option Martinez recovers from jaw surgery, with the Argentine having received lengthy treatment and been rushed to hospital immediately following a sickening clash of heads at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Chelsea - who loaned out former No1 Robert Sanchez to Como in the summer after signing Martinez from Aston Villa as Filip Jorgensen went to BlueCo sister club Strasbourg - have full trust that Penders can be a capable understudy and their long-term No1 of the future.

Elsewhere in the team, Chelsea have won back-to-back Premier League games by an aggregate scoreline of 7-1 with Jordan Henderson, 36, and Moises Caicedo as their midfield double pivot. The duo partner one another against Spurs at Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and £117million summer signing Morgan Rogers were expected to start as Chelsea’s front three once more, but Joao Pedro is out as Geovany Quenda makes a surprise start.

Manager Xabi Alonso keeps Pedro Neto at right wing-back after he scored both goals against Everton.

At centre-back, Wesley Fofana has been benched for the last two matches and Alonso is known to be fond of Cobham academy product Josh Acheampong, so chooses to start the Englishman again.

Time to shine: Mike Penders will step up for Chelsea in the absence of Emi Martinez

PA

Malo Gusto missed the Everton game due to illness, while Pep Chavarria travelled up to Merseyside and was due to start, only to be replaced in the lineup by Jorrel Hato because of a slight injury picked up in training. While Gusto has now recovered and is available, the game will come too soon for Chavarria.

Winger Jamie Gittens suffered an ankle injury on international duty with England’s Under-21s and will remain sidelined for the next few weeks, while striker Emmanuel Emegha recently suffered a setback in training and it remains to be seen exactly when he will be in a position to make his competitive debut for Chelsea - but it will not be against Spurs.

Chelsea XI vs Tottenham: Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Colwill; Neto, Henderson, Caicedo, Hato; Palmer, Quenda, Rogers

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Fofana, Gusto, Palestra, Barco, Lavia, Nicoll-Jazuli, Estevao, Welbeck

Injured: James, Martinez, Chavarria, Gittens, Emegha

Time and date: 5:30pm BST on Saturday October 24, 2026

Venue: Stamford Bridge

How to watch: Sky Sports