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

Chelsea striker Diego Costa returned from his hamstring issue against Stoke City on April 4 but re-injured the muscle after 11 minutes and had to come off. He has faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but he returned for Monday's match against West Bromwich Albion.

Continue for updates.

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Costa Starts vs. West Brom

Monday, May 18

Chelsea confirmed that Costa was in the starting lineup for the club's match vs. West Brom.

Costa previously missed the draw with Liverpool and title-winning match against Crystal Palace, among several other recent fixtures.

The issue arose just 11 minutes after re-entering the game against Stoke on April 4, when Costa reinjured his hamstring and had to come off.

Costa is one of the most effective strikers in Europe when healthy. Unfortunately for Chelsea, it seems the injury woes that started to impact him during his final campaign with Atletico Madrid have carried over to his new club.

He dealt with a hamstring issue back in October that caused a rift between Blues manager Mourinho and the Spanish national team. He ended up missing four matches while recovering.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Gill Clark of Goal.com provided comments from the outspoken boss, who wasn't pleased and stated the striker would need "special care" moving forward: "He played for the national team and we lost him for four matches. Crystal Palace, Maribor, Shrewsbury and Manchester United, four matches in three different competitions. Now he is again available but he needs to be under special care."

With the season now all but over, Mourinho's main focus will be on delivering a fully fit Costa in time for next term.