Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are both fit for Chelseas trip to Middlesbrough on Sunday (20 November) despite suffering injury scares during the recent international break. Manager Antonio Conte has revealed that Cesc Fabregas is also available, but suggested Kurt Zouma needs to build up his match fitness with the Under-23 side before returning to the first team.
Costa joined up with the Spain squad over the international break hoping to play a part in the games against Macedonia and England.
However, the former Atletico Madrid star withdrew from the squad after it emerged he had suffered a groin injury during the 5-0 victory over Everton, when he scored his ninth goal of the campaign to cement his spot as the Premier Leagues top scorer.
Hazards availability for the trip to Middlesbrough was also uncertain after Belgium boss Roberto Martinez revealed that he picked up a knock in Belgiums win over Estonia.
However, Conte has eased those concerns after revealing the two Chelsea aces are ready for the trip to the Riverside Stadium.
The news is that I have all of the players available, Conte confirmed in a press conference ahead of the trip to Middlesbrough. They are in good form. Costa had a bit of an injury after the Everton game, he started to train with us on Wednesday and his physical condition is good. We still have tomorrow to look at the situation tactically but at the moment he can play. Eden also recovered very well.
Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, is yet to play a game since the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on 24 September. However, Conte claimed that the Spaniard is also now in good shape and ready to return to action against Aitor Karankas side.
Zouma is also fit, having already played some recent games with the Under-23s. However, Conte suggested that the game with Middlesbrough will come too early for the Frenchman as he is yet to play for the first team since suffering a serious knee injury against Manchester United in February.
Im happy to have the availability of all my central defenders. Its important Kurt is with us, Conte said. He is in good form in training, but its normal after a bad injury that you need time to recover. In this period we prefer him to play with the Under-23s, which he will do on Monday. Its important for him to have game time and its fantastic to have another great player like Kurt available.
