Costa nursing new hamstring problem

Jose Mourinho said Diego Costa’s injury means he is a doubt for Chelsea’s next game against Stoke City in just under a fortnight.

Costa was clutching his hamstring when he was replaced by matchwinner Loic Remy after 75 minutes of the 3-2 victory over Hull City.

The Spanish striker, whose goal against the Tigers takes his league tally to 19 this season, has been nursing a hamstring injury for much of the season.

Blues boss Mourinho said: “I was going to play Loic with Diego when Diego gave us an indication he couldn’t carry on.

“He has a muscular problem – no doubt about it. When the team needs goals and the striker comes off with 15 minutes left it is because he knows clearly he has an injury.

“But if he cannot play the next game against Stoke then we have Remy and we have Didier Drogba.”

Chelsea, who have regained their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, went two goals ahead but Hull drew level by the interval.

“The performance was very, very good until 2-0,” Mourinho added. “We lost a bit of quality after their two goals, but in the second half, we recovered a good level of football.

“At half-time I said ‘The 2-2 is like 0-0, so let’s start again.’ We played dynamic football at the start. I told my team to go back to that and play football, rather than focusing on mistakes. And we did that.

“Against a very difficult opponent I think we deserved the three points.”

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