Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez could return earlier than expected after seeing a specialist in bid to speed up his recovery from a fractured jaw, according to reports.

Martinez sustained the jaw injury during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium a couple of weeks ago.

He had a collision with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and left the pitch on a stretcher due to a concussion. Later scans, however, revealed that he also fractured his jaw, for which he underwent surgery.

Blues manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper would be out for “a few weeks”, and young goalkeeper Mike Penders has stepped up to fill the void left by Martinez’s absence in the last two games.

It remains unclear how long Martinez will remain sidelined, but according to a recent report from The Athletic, it could be sooner than initially planned.

The Argentina international has reportedly been seeing a specialist and has looked into getting a facemask fitted, which could accelerate his return to the pitch.

Despite Penders’ poor performance in the derby against Spurs last weekend, he looked very solid in the Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool that ended in a penalty loss. Penders made three important saves in the game, plus another big save in the penalty shoot-out.

Chelsea will only play two more games, Premier League fixtures against Manchester United this weekend and Sunderland the following week, before the next international break. There is no reason Chelsea should not trust Penders to start in goal for two more games and let Martinez recover.

However, it is still a good idea for Martinez to consult with a specialist and prepare for the possibility of having to wear a facemask. This could also help him return to training sooner, and Chelsea could carefully plan his training to reduce contact and the risk of aggravating the injury.

Martinez would then have three weeks to recover in time for the first game after the international break against Leeds United on November 21.

The Blues also have a couple of other players who will hope to make their returns against Leeds, such as Joao Pedro (thigh) and Jamie Gittens (ankle).

Maxence Lacroix, who sustained a hamstring injury against Liverpool, could also be in this category. He was set for scans to determine the severity of the injury in the next couple of days.

Pep Chavarria, meanwhile, will hope to be back in the squad this weekend. Alonso previously confirmed the left-back had already returned to training before Liverpool, but needed more time to be ready.