Diego Costa will wear a protective face mask for tomorrow’s visit of Newcastle after suffering a broken nose.

The Chelsea striker sustained the injury during a training drill at Cobham this week but is expected to be fit for the Magpies clash.

Blues manager Guus Hiddink is short of options up front with Alexandre Pato and Radamel Falcao still unavailable.

"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.

"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."

Chelsea are heavily reliant on the Spanish international for goals and Costa has looked a man reborn under Hiddink after struggling towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s reign.

When asked for an update on Pato, Hiddink added of his chances of facing the Geordies: “He is in the second week of pre-season. Not now, not at the moment.

“He’s progressing, he came from holiday - of course you can see the difference between him and the ones in daily training.

“After ten days, you can see him progressing, but next week he will go to the next level of training.”

Read more: Full coverage of Guus Hiddink's Chelsea press conference.

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