- Chelsea face Champions League Group G clash against Porto on Tuesday
- Diego Costa has missed Chelsea’s last two games through suspension
- Costa is set to start against Porto as his ban is for domestic games only
- Jose Mourinho may bring captain John Terry back into the first-team fold
By
Ashley Clements for MailOnline
Published:
12:40 GMT, 28 September 2015
|
Updated:
15:48 GMT, 28 September 2015
Diego Costa looked prepared for battle on Monday afternoon as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side geared up for their Champions League clash against Porto.
Costa, who has served two games of his three-match domestic ban, is available for selection ahead of Mourinho’s return to his former club on Tuesday.
The Brazil-born striker missed Chelsea’s Capital One Cup victory against Walsall and Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle after being retrospectively banned for violent conduct following his side’s heated 2-0 win over Arsenal earlier this month.

Diego Costa is set to return to Chelsea’s starting line-up for the Champions League clash with Porto

Costa, seen here in training on Monday, has missed Chelsea’s last two games through suspension

Blues boss Jose Mourinho looks on during training at the club’s Cobham base on Monday afternoon
Mourinho will no doubt call upon the controversial frontman once again as Costa looks to build on his goal scoring European performance against Maccabi Tel Aviv when Chelsea’s kicked off Groupo G with a 4-0 win.
Blues skipper John Terry will also be hoping to reclaim his place in Mourinho’s starting line-up as the Portuguese boss looks to add experience to his defence for the tough trip to Portugal.
Meanwhile, Kurt Zouma has backed ‘legend’ Terry to return to the side after taking his captain’s place.
The 20-year-old replaced Terry at half-time during the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City in August and has started every Premier League and Champions League match since – while the former England man has only played in the Capital One Cup after losing to Everton on September 12.

Chelsea captain John Terry (left) walks out for training alongside diminutive Belgian Eden Hazard

Hazard will be hoping to steer Chelsea to three points in their Group G clash against Porto

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has stepped up his recovery after tearing his meniscus while training
‘The legend is still there,’ Zouma told French television show Telefoot. ‘In the next few matches, he’ll play. That’s for sure.
‘He’s a bit like my teacher. When I was younger he was a great example to me and the fact that I’m playing with him is an honour.
‘He talks a lot… he’s a good teacher.’

Hazard and Costa take part in Chelsea’s final training session before the European clash with Porto

Gary Cahill (centre) stretches alongside his Chelsea team-mates as they gear up for another European test
The Blues have made a stuttering start to their title defence, picking up only eight points from their opening seven games, which Zouma reveals has angered their manager.
‘When he’s not happy, you certainly know about it at training,’ Zouma said of Mourinho.
‘He shouts a lot. Mentally as well he’s taught me a lot because you know he doesn’t like to lose. He really hates losing.
‘I know he expects a lot from me and I want to return the favour because it’s down to him that I’m here today.’
Partiu ninguém viu!!! Off to Porto ✈️ #UCL
A photo posted by Willian Borges Da Silva (@willianborges88) on Sep 28, 2015 at 7:12am PDT

French defender Kurt Zouma (centre) has hailed Chelsea captain and ‘legend’ Terry

The Chelsea squad will hope to put another disappointing Premier League performance behind them

Former Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic will have plenty of experience of playing against Porto
Chelsea No 1 Thibaut Courtois has shared another update on his recovery following surgery on a knee injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until December.
The Belgium international tore his meniscus while training ahead of the Premier League champions’ loss to Everton at Goodison Park on September 12 and subsequently underwent surgery in Spain.
Courtois shared an Instagram picture of him in a swimming pool while giving a double thumbs-up, accompanied by the caption: ‘Starting a next step of rehabilitation in the swimming pool.’
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