Willian tapped in Chelsea’s third goal past Robert Elliot in goal for Newcastle United into the break.
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The Blues can’t afford to lose Costa, who has scored seven times in his last nine matches for Chelsea.
Chelsea have certainly become harder to beat under Guus Hiddink with five wins and six draws in his 11 games (all competitions) so far, though recent home draws against West Brom and Everton don’t suggest they have improved all that much.
Last weekend’s clean sheet was the club’s first since the start of December.
Both teams desperately need the points.
Mourinho left Stamford Bridge for the second time in December after presiding over a disastrous run of results and what technical director Michael Emenalo described as “palpable discord” that had developed between the manager and his players, with Hiddink returning for a second interim spell.
Striker Diego Costa is expected to play in a protective face mask when Chelsea play Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday after suffering a broken nose in training on Thursday. That hasn’t been the case and of course that meant there was a lot of uncertainty within the club and with the players. “It was one of the youngsters of the academy that we like to participate in our sessions”.
That may partly explain why Ramires, 28, was sold to Jiangsu Suning for an initial £20m last month, in anticipation of an awkward summer ahead when Chelsea’s ability to convince elite targets to join, rather than move to Champions League clubs, will be tested. He displayed an impressive crossing ability and was unlucky not to open his Newcastle account as he saw his right footed strike hit the post.
In Zouma’s place will be Gary Cahill, who hasn’t started since Boxing Day.
Siem de Jong returned to training on Monday, but is still a little short on fitness.
It will be an interesting game, as neither side has looked capable of easily winning matches this season. In 21 attempts in the Premier League era, Newcastle have only managed to win once away from home against Chlesea.
However, with the top four now beyond them, the Chelsea players may be forgiven for having one eye on their Champions League clash with Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday night.
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Chelsea have been dealt a fresh blow in the build-up to Saturday’s match, after striker Diego Costa broke his nose in training this week.
