Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is expecting to be without Diego Costa for the next four matches.
The striker came on as a second half substitute during the club’s 2-1 win over Stoke City on Saturday but lasted only twelves minutes before being replaced after appearing to suffer a hamstring injury.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference today, Jose Mourinho gave an injury update on his squad with Costa being the focal point of the briefing.
“Only Diego is injured, everybody else is fine and ready [to play against QPR],” Mourinho said.
“I think we have eight matches to play, if he plays four it is normal. If he plays three he is a bit below what I am expecting. If he plays five that is more than I am expecting. I am not concerned [by his injury].”
Chelsea fans will still be nervous about Costa’s fitness – despite Mourinho’s lack of concern regarding the severity of the player’s injury.
The former Atletico Madrid striker spent the much of the second half of last season on the treatment table and was a constant injury concern heading into important fixtures towards the end of the campaign.
Costa was continually aggravating a hamstring problem during the final days of the season, with the issue famously leading to the striker being substituted in the ninth minute of the Champions League against Real Madrid.
Chelsea will be hoping Costa’s injury doesn’t mirror the problem the striker had last season in Spain.
Programming note: Queens Park Rangers vs. Chelsea will be shown LIVE on Sunday at 8:30am EST on NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra.
