Diego Costa could be in line to make his 100th Chelsea appearance this weekend, as the Blues host Premier League strugglers Hull City at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard was dropped by Antonio Conte for Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Leicester last time out, following a reported training ground altercation with a fitness coach in the week prior to the match.
Costa had also been the subject of a lucrative £30million-a-year offer from a Chinese Super League club, leading to speculation over his future at the club after rumours suggested the offer had unsettled the Premier League’s joint-top scorer.
Conte, however, dismissed these rumours and indicated Costa had been left out due to a back injury.
The striker joined up with his teammates in training on Tuesday and could make an immediate return to the starting line-up against Hull.
Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro led the line impressively in the victory over Leicester last weekend, but one of the three could miss out this weekend should Costa return to the starting line-up.
Conte’s men head into Sunday’s fixture seven points clear at the top of the Premier League against a side who have not tasted victory against Chelsea since 1988.
Goals from Willian and Costa helped Conte’s men to a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season and kickstarted the Blues’ 13-match winning run in the league.
Here’s who we think will start this weekend.
