Chelsea injury news: Diego Costa suffers broken nose after training 'duel' but will face Newcastle wearing a face mask
Costa has been passed fit for Saturday's clash with Newcastle
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Your support makes all the difference.Diego Costa will become the latest Chelsea player to don a face mask after suffering a broken nose in training, manager Guus Hiddink has revealed.
The injury was picked up in what Hiddink described as a “duel” with an unnamed academy player, and the collision left Costa needing treatment on his nose.
"Yesterday in training Diego got in a duel, got his nose broken," Hiddink said.
"It was not this tough duel, but he put his nose on the back of the head and he was very unlucky."
Costa becomes the second current Chelsea player to require a mask for matches, joining defender Cesar Azpilicueta in wearing one. Gary Cahill, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic have all required similar treatment methods in the past after suffering facial injuries, while past players Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Petr Cech have also been seen competing in face masks.
Hiddink joked that the injury does seem to affect the Chelsea squad more than others, adding: "Today is the day they put on a mask. We are a team with a lot of masks. A Zorro team.
"I hope. I'm not sure, but I think he will be available."
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However, while Costa will be available to face Newcastle in Saturday’s evening kick-off, one player who will not be is defender Kurt Zouma. The Frenchman was carried off during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United last weekend and has been ruled out for up to six months due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Radamel Falcao remains sidelined indefinitely as he continues to struggle with a groin strain.
The only other concern for Chelsea is the fitness of striker Loic Remy, with the striker still struggling with a calf injury that will keep him out of Saturday’s encounter. January loan signing Alexandre Pato is available for selection, although the decision will be taken by Hiddink to decide on his match fitness after the Brazilian failed to appear in Chelsea’s last two matches since he joined on deadline day.
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