Diego Costa Injury: Updates on Chelsea Star's Hamstring and Return

Updates from Saturday, Aug. 30

Chelsea announced Diego Costa's status for today's match:

Updates from Friday, Aug. 29

Simon Peach of the Press Association announces good news for Costa and Chelsea:

Jose Mourinho has not given up hope of Diego Costa featuring for Chelsea at Everton on Saturday, but admits the hamstrung striker is a "big doubt."

Chelsea's official Twitter quoted Mourinho saying:

Martin Lipton of the Daily Mirror expects Costa to miss the match in order to give him the full international break to recover:

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The £32million striker aggravated the hamstring tweak he had sustained during the weekend win over Leicester during the second of the Blues double training sessions on Wednesday. While the Brazilian-born Spaniard completed the session, he reported a tightness in his muscle to club medical staff afterwards.

Costa stayed inside for treatment during today's training stint at Cobham although Jose Mourinho has yet to rule him out of the trip to Goodison. But the Blues are concerned that playing Costa at the weekend could make him vulnerable to a pull which might bring a long-term absence.

And with the two week international break looming, with the first Champions League group games immediately following the resumption of domestic football, Mourinho seems likely to decide not to risk his main attacking weapon.

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Spain are clearly confident of a quick recovery for Costa, announcing him in their squad for forthcoming fixtures with France and Macedonia:

Updates from Thursday, Aug. 28

Chelsea have confirmed that Diego Costa has suffered a "minor" injury but have refrained from offering a timeline for his recovery at this stage.

Sky Sports provides the latest on the Chelsea striker, whose predicted absence ranges from a few days right up to six weeks: 

Original Text

Chelsea may be without Diego Costa this weekend after the striker reportedly injured his hamstring.

101 Great Goals posted a photo from the newest edition of The Sun, which reported that Costa was hurt in training:

Matt Law of the Telegraph had more:

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It is understood Costa suffered a hamstring problem in training on Wednesday that has prompted fears he could be out for up to six weeks.

But Chelsea are hoping further assessment will show the injury is not too bad and Costa has still not given up on facing Everton at Goodison Park.

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The Blues have a tough run of fixtures coming up. They make the trip to Goodison Park on Saturday to take on Everton. After that, they're home against Swansea, away to Manchester City and then home to Aston Villa and Arsenal.   

Missing Costa for the fixtures against Everton, City and Arsenal could prove a crippling blow. Only Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres would be their healthy natural forwards with the squad as currently constructed. Jose Mourinho could potentially deploy Andre Schurrle in a central position, but he's best used out wide.

The lack of a consistent striker was one of Chelsea's biggest problems last season, and losing Costa—one of their marquee signings—would bring that issue to the fore once again.