Chelsea and Antonio Conte have now stitched a 5-match winning run coming into the international break and have been in fine form recently. The switch to a back-3 has seen the side keep 5 consecutive clean sheets and the Blues were finally looking like a force to reckon with in this competitive Premier League season.
His two star players Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, who have been in fine form, were supposed to be busy in the international break but Chelsea were dealt a cruel blow today after it was revealed that the Spanish striker has now picked up an injury.
With 9 goals in 11 games for the club this season, Costa, is the highest goal scorer in the domestic league and is one of the most important players for Conte this season.
He was carrying a groin injury from the game against Everton last weekend and Spain coach Julen Lopetegui said that Costa’s recovery had been disappointing ruling him out of the Spain squad.
The former World Cup winners face crunch games against Macedonia and England (at Wembley) and will miss the Chelsea man for both the clashes. His replacement has also been named.
Former Liverpool star Iago Aspas, who failed to impress in his stint in England, has been in fine form for Celta de Vigo in La Liga this season and he was named as the replacement for Costa for the couple of games in this international break.
Chelsea however fear that he might miss more crunch games for the club after the international break.
Reports reveal that Costa’s injury is worse than what was thought of it by the medical staff of his national team. Though it was expected that he could shrug off the niggle, it is now understood that he needs further scans on his injury.
But the same report suggests that Chelsea, who face Middlesbrough on the 20th of November, are hopeful that he can make the matchday squad for that trip.
It is understood that he is now back in London and will be assessed completely but Chelsea are not too worried as his injury will not rule him out of the games against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City after the trip to the Riverside.
Though the exact extent of his absence is unknown, Conte will know that he should have enough firepower to beat the newly promoted side and will hope that Costa is back for the crunch games.
Do you think Costa’s absence can effect Chelsea for the game against Middlesbrough?