Jose explains strategy to get Costa fit

Manager Jose Mourinho says Chelsea have already set detailed plans to ensure Diego Costa has a summer where he can fully recover from an injury-hit season.

The 19-goal striker has been troubled by a hamstring problem since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2014 and has not featured since limping off after an 11-minute substitute appearance against Stoke City at the start of April.

He has only started 23 of Chelsea’s 34 league matches so far this term and will not play against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

And with the Blues just one victory away from winning the Premier League, Mourinho said Costa, 26, may not feature again this season.

Mourinho added: “He needs a good period of work because we are preparing a good working situation for him during the holiday period where we can mix holiday and work with our people.

“If we win on Sunday I would say he doesn’t play against Liverpool. If we don’t win on Sunday and we need points against Liverpool, I would say he plays against Liverpool.

“At the moment we are result after result and if we don’t need then probably, he doesn’t play again [this season].”

Loic Remy has recovered from a muscular injury and is “definitely back” according to his manager, while Didier Drogba, a scorer in the 3-1 win over Leicester is also available.