Chelsea injury news: Diego Costa to wear facemask against Newcastle after breaking his nose in training

Nose where the goal is: Costa has scored 7 goals in his last 9 games
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Simon Johnson12 February 2016

Diego Costa will have to wear a facemask against Newcastle tomorrow after breaking his nose in training.

Costa is the fourth Chelsea player this term to have to don protective headgear with Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic and Cesar Azpilicueta also suffering serious injuries this season.

The 27-year-old striker suffered the blow after an accidental collision involving youth team player Fikayo Tomori on Thursday afternoon.

But Hiddink expects the striker, who has scored seven goals in his last nine appearances, to be fit enough to face Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

Hiddink feels Chelsea have become so unlucky they are looking like a team full of the film character Zorro and said: “Yesterday in training, Diego got in a duel and had his nose broken.

“I like to hide (who it was). It was not Oscar. It was one of the youngsters of the academy who we like to participate.

“It was not a tough duel, but he put his nose on the back of the kid's head. He was very unlucky and his nose was broken. He will return today.

“They’ll try and give him a mask as well...we are a team with a lot of masks. A Zorro team - Azpi, Matic, now Diego.

“He will come back and do some light training in the afternoon because he must experience how he deals with the mask. Then he will join us in the hotel later on.”

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Costa has been key for Chelsea under Hiddink and the Dutchman added: “It's important he's showing already, for weeks, that he's of big importance for the team.

“Also, where everyone was very critical of him, he's controlled himself very well and is focused on his job. We are very happy with his performances on and off the pitch.”

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