Chelsea vs Newcastle team news: Diego Costa starts despite broken nose as Eden Hazard returns for Blues
Chelsea make three changes with Oscar and Kurt Zouma ruled out and John Obi Mikel dropped
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Your support makes all the difference.Diego Costa will lead the Chelsea attack against Newcastle despite suffering a broken nose in training during the week as Guus Hiddink makes three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United last weekend.
Two of his changes are forced after Kurt Zouma suffered a season-ending knee ligament injury, with Gary Cahill coming into the defence to partner John Terry at centre-back while Pedro replaces the injured Oscar.
The only other change sees Eden Hazard return to the starting line-up, with John Obi Mikel dropping to the bench and Cesc Fabregas reverting to a deeper role in midfield alongside Nemanja Matic.
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren is able to name the same starting XI that defeated West Brom 1-0 last weekend, but there is a welcome return for fit-again midfielder Jack Colback on the substitutes’ bench.
It means that Aleksandar Mitrovic retains his place as the lead striker following his goal against the Baggies, with January signing Seydou Doumbia remaining on the bench alongside returning pair Jamaal Lascelles and Emmanuel Reviere.
Teams
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Diego Costa
Subs: Begovic, Baba, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Kenedy, Remy
Newcastle: Elliot; Janmaat, Taylor, Coloccini, Aarons; Tiote, Shelvey; Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Townsend; Mitrovic.
Subs: Darlow, Lascelles, Colback, Saivet, Perez, Riviere, Doumbia.
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