COSTA NOT FIT TO PLAY FOR SPAIN

DIEGO COSTA is likely to be released from international duty by Spain after being allowed to stay in London for medical tests. The striker suffered yet another hamstring injury during Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Hull on Sunday, and was checked over by the Spanish FA yesterday. Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has planned for Costa’s absence by calling Malaga’s Juanmi into the squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Ukraine and next week’s Holland friendly. It will leave Costa free to focus on recovering for Chelsea’s game against Stoke a week on Saturday. Jose Mourinho said club doctor Paco Biosca was against the idea of an operation but Costa may yet consider corrective surgery at the end of the season in an attempt to solve the hamstring problem which has nagged him for a year.