Costa will miss Chelsea’s friendly against Real

Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard are set to return to action for Chelsea in their friendly against Real Madrid in Michigan, but Diego Costa will not be involved.

Belgium internationals Courtois and Hazard have not featured in the Blues’ pre-season campaign so far, having been given an extended break because of their involvement in this summer’s European Championship.

Both players have resumed training and are expected to play the second half of the match against Real.

Recent signing N’Golo Kante, who featured for France in the Euros, trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Friday.

But boss Antonio Conte has said that a back problem means striker Costa will not play.

“I have to see the players in training. If I cannot see them in the training session, I cannot put them in a game,” he said.

“Diego had pain in his back, so he didn’t train, and for this reason he doesn’t play.”