Chelsea FC take on Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge with forward Diego Costa the latest player to play with a face mask following a training injury, and young centre-back Jake Clarke-Salter joining the first team as a replacement for injured defender Kurt Zouma.
Diego Costa to play through the pain barrier against Newcastle United
“Diego got into a duel and had his nose broken,” Hiddink was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
“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.
“I think he will be available. We’ll see how he reacts this afternoon in a very light session, but I hope – I’m not sure – that he will be available.”
Clarke-Salter, Miazga promoted to first team
Following the knee injury to defender Kurt Zouma that ruled him out for six months, Hiddink revealed that academy starlet Clarke-Salter will join new signing from New York Red Bulls Matt Miazga in the first team.
Hiddink said: “Matt moves up, and also I have the kid from the academy [Clarke-Salter] who is now with us.
“He is coming up from the academy, but also Matt who has been with us a few weeks already. In the first-team squad of 15 or 16 players, we can also make variations with Branislav Ivanovic, Baba Rahman, César Azpilicueta who can play inside … we have some options to choose.”
Chelsea FC will have the attacking trio of Falcao, Loic Remy and Pato out injured, alongside Zouma. Hiddink will have the rest of the squad to chose from.
Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Costa
