Chelsea
Chelsea Team News: Hiddink Confirms Fresh Injury Doubt + Duo To Miss Newcastle Game
Guus Hiddink has confirmed a fresh injury doubt ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle while two other players have been ruled out of the game.
Chelsea will be hoping to stretch their unbeaten run when they take on Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of the game, Guus Hiddink has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s given reporters a team news and injury update.
The interim boss revealed that Diego Costa is a slight doubt for this weekend’s action after suffering a broken nose in training on Thursday following a clash of heads with one of the academy players while contesting a high ball.
The Brazilian-born hitman sat out training this morning but is hoping to train away from the rest of the squad this afternoon once he’s had his protective face mask fitted. As long as he’s able to train without issue, Hiddink is hopeful that Costa will be able to feature against Newcastle tomorrow afternoon.
Costa won’t be the only Chelsea player to wear a protective face mask if he plays tomorrow as Cesar Azpilicueta has also been wearing a mask in recent weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone, while Nemanja Matic also wore a mask earlier in the season.
Hiddink is quoted as saying by talkSPORT:
“Yesterday in training Diego got in a duel, got his nose broken,”
“It was not this tough duel, but he put his nose on the back of the head and he was very unlucky.”
“Today is the day they put on a mask. We are a team with a lot of masks. A Zorro team.
“I hope. I’m not sure, but I think he will be available.”
Chelsea will be desperate for Costa to be passed fit as Hiddink has limited options up front with Alexandre Pato still not fit enough to make the squad for the first time since sealing his loan move from Corinthians last month.
With Radamel Falcao also still recovering from a long-standing thigh injury, Hiddink would be left with a real void to fill through the middle if Costa is ruled out.
Guus says Pato won't be available this weekend but he is doing well with extra programmes. The aim is for him to be back next weekend. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 12, 2016
Guus says he expects the squad to stay the same until the end of the season. He adds Falcao is still recovering. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 12, 2016
