Costa is ruled out of Maribor game

Diego Costa has been ruled out of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Maribor.

Costa missed the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, after which Blues boss Jose Mourinho said he had “no idea” when the Spain striker will be available again.

He has been nursing a hamstring problem for some time and Mourinho was unhappy that Costa was called up for recent international matches.

“After the Arsenal game he went to the national team and played in two big matches against Slovakia and Luxembourg and becomes in a condition where he is not available for his club,” Mourinho said.

Ramires and Andre Schurrle, who missed the win at Palace too, are also expected to be unavailable on Tuesday.

Schurrle withdrew from the Germany squad last week because of illness and Ramires is struggling with a hip problem.

“I don’t think Ramires or Andre Schurrle will be available, Diego definitely not,” Mourinho added.

“I want to make a couple of changes but I don’t think many [injured] players will recover, so I will have the players I had today.”

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