Hiddink: Costa has broken his nose in ‘a duel’

Matt Stead

Guus Hiddink says that Diego Costa has broken his nose in “a duel” with a Chelsea youth player.

Chelsea interim boss Hiddink revealed on Friday that the striker suffered the injury in a training ground collision with an unnamed academy player.

“Yesterday in training Diego got in a duel, got his nose broken,” Hiddink said.

“It was not this tough duel, but he put his nose on the back of the head and he was very unlucky.”

Costa is poised to join full-back Cesar Azpilicueta in wearing a protective face mask against Newcastle, which was due to be fitted on Friday before a light training session to test Costa’s readiness. Azpilicueta is recovering from a facial injury.

Hiddink added: “Today is the day they put on a mask. We are a team with a lot of masks. A Zorro team.

“I hope. I’m not sure, but I think he will be available.”