Chelsea striker Diego Costa struggling to play with hamstring injury: Jose Mourinho

Diiego Costa (R) with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (L)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho revealed that Diego Costa still has problems with his hamstring after suffering an injury during the international break with Spain.

The injury has restricted the 25-year-old to playing just one game per week, with two games in four days out of the question. Costa has been in fine form for the Blues, scoring seven goals in four Premier League games this season already.

But the Brazilian born striker did not start in the Champions League draw against Schalke and Didier Drogba started up front instead.

Mourinho: Costa can’t play three matches a week

The Blues boss said: “He has a problem and he can’t play, in this moment, three matches in a week.

“If he has one week to let the muscle recover he can start again like he was before he had that problem with the national team.”

The £32m summer signing did come off the bench in midweek, but was unable to help the team secure a win in the final stages of the game.

Costa will play against Manchester City

When asked whether he was benched so he could play the defending Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, Mourinho explained: “Not selecting him here was not to protect him for the game for Sunday, but because today he was not in the condition after Saturday.

“He had a problem in the national team, not with us. And now we have a problem and have to resolve it as best we can. He was not fit enough to start against Schalke.

“On Sunday we believe he will be. Next week against Bolton (Capital One Cup), for sure he won’t be. We have to manage the situation until the moment he’s completely fine.

“I don’t know (how long he will be injured). But, if today he had started the game, for sure he could not play on Sunday. We have to go step by step.”