Costa passed fit to play against QPR

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Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been passed fit for the west London derby against QPR, Blues boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed.

Costa has missed Chelsea’s last four matches, having aggravated a hamstring problem while on international duty with Spain. He was also recently laid low by a virus.

But he returned to training this week and is set to be involved in Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge.

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“Now he is available, but he again needs to be under special care.”

Jose Mourinho on Diego Costa

Ramires is also available following a muscle problem, but Loic Remy remains sidelined for the game against his former club because of a groin injury and John Mikel Obi is also out.

“It’s good for us. It’s difficult with only one striker available, so obviously the situation has improved,” Mourinho said.

“We don’t have Mikel, which is not good for us, but the fact we have been able to recover Ramires is compensation for that loss so the situation is a bit better.”

Mourinho was unhappy that Costa played twice for Spain this month despite ongoing concerns over the 26-year-old’s fitness – he returned injured and has not played for his club since.

And Mourinho has admitted he will be powerless to stop Costa being called up by his national team again in November.

“That is not my call – not my decision. I am nobody to stand in the way of national teams. I cannot stop him going,” he said.

“Now he is available, but he again needs to be under special care and we are going to do that. It’s the only thing we can do.”

Mourinho added: “I am always supportive of players playing for their country when players are in condition to do it and follow the same kind of programme they follow [at the club] to recover from problems they have.”

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