Chelsea’s leading scorer from last season limped out of the Blues’ friendly victory over Barcelona in Washington this week after hurting his hamstring, a problem that dogged him last season.
The injury has immediately made him a doubt for not just Sunday’s Community Shield game against Arsenal at Wembley but the season opener against the Swans the following weekend.
Costa scored a hat-trick against the Swans at Stamford Bridge last season and his absence would give us a boost although with the likes of Falcao and Remy to step into his shoes it does not necessarily make the game itself any easier.
Swansea of course had their own striker injury last weekend with Bafetimbi Gomis missing the weekend games but that is said to be just precautionary rather than anything to worry about.
“I don’t know how much to read into that to be honest,” said the Swansea boss of Costa’s injury.
“I think it was last year that he was reported to have a hamstring injury and then he played the next game.
“That’s for them to assess. I’m not worried about that. I’m just concentrating on Swansea and getting my players as ready as possible.
“Gomis is fine. He’s back in training already so it was just precautionary. I took him out of the games at the weekend, he did some work at home and he’s back in training already,” added Monk.
“That’s all good ahead of our final friendly this weekend. Then on to the Chelsea game after that.”
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