Costa left out of Champions League squad

DIEGO COsta has been omitted from Chelsea’s Champions League squad as his uncertain future took another twist yesterday.

the decision comes days after the aWOL striker was listed in Chelsea’s Premier League squad and raises more questions over how the club hope to deal with the issue that has cast a cloud over their summer.

Costa has no intention of returning to stamford Bridge, while Conte has no plans to reintroduce him to his first team.

Chelsea’s decision to name Costa in their Premier League 25-man party suggested the striker might yet have a future in west London. Yet the decision to include him may work in Chelsea’s favour in any future legal battle with Costa.

If Costa were to feature for Chelsea in the Champions League he would be cup-tied for the rest of the season.

atletico Madrid, whose transfer ban expires in January, would find Costa a more attractive proposition in the winter transfer window if he is still eligible to play in Europe.

Vincent Janssen and Erik Lamela have been left out of tottenham’s squad for the Champions League. It is unclear when Lamela will play again after missing 11 months with a hip injury. But it is Holland striker Janssen’s omission that is a surprise just over 12 months after he was signed for £17million. Fernando Llorente’s arrival has pushed the Dutchman down the pecking order.

For Liverpool, Philippe Coutinho has been named in their Champions League squad as they await his return from international duty.

adam Lallana, who is not expected to recover from his left thigh injury until November, has also been listed by Klopp but there is no place for right back Nathaniel Clyne, who has a long-standing back problem.

Coutinho is the key inclusion, though, and the midfielder is set to figure for Brazil against Colombia tomorrow, having scored for his country last thursday — his first match since august 1.

Brazil meet Colombia in Barranquilla and Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have jointly laid on a private jet to get their players back early ahead of the weekend’s Premier League games.

the 25-year-old has not kicked a ball in the Premier League so far, having expressed his desire to quit anfield for Barcelona, but in his absence Liverpool have taken seven points from the first nine available.

there seems little chance Klopp will put Coutinho back into his team for the game at Manchester City on saturday, but the manager will assess him at Melwood.

For Manchester United, James Wilson is a surprise inclusion. the 21-year- old striker has not played senior football for 11 months after suffering a knee injury while on loan at Derby. He returned for United in an Under 23 game last month.