Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has indicated that striker Diego Costa has benefited from remaining at the club during the international period.
In October, Costa, who has been managing an ongoing hamstring problem since the start of the season, returned from Spain duty having aggravated an injury, but he was left out for last week's fixtures during the international period.
At his pre-match press conference ahead of the game with West Bromwich Albion, Mourinho was quizzed on whether he would rest the club's top goalscorer during the Christmas period, but the Portuguese coach has revealed that he expects the forward to feature in each fixture.
The 51-year-old told reporters: "The Christmas period is new for him. He has worked with a club physio even during the international break.
"He is on four bookings but will I protect him? No."
The 26-year-old has scored 10 goals in 12 games in all competitions since joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Darren Plant
