Diego Costa In Line For Shock Chelsea Start vs Sporting Lisbon

Mourinho keen to give striker a fitness boost in Champions League clash.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is said to be preparing to play star striker Diego Costa from the start in the club’s final Champions League group game against Sporting Lisbon this week, the Guardian reports.

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Costs would normally sit out such a meaningless encounter, but Mourinho is said to be keen to give him some minutes in order to build up his fitness following such well documented injury problems recently.

Chelsea have already qualified for the knockout phase of the competition as group winners and are expected to rest key players in the game against the Portuguese – who still aspire to finish second – at Stamford Bridge ahead of the cluttered festive schedule.

Cesc Fàbregas, Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard are likely to sit out the fixture, but Costa could find himself in from the start.

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