Good News For Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois will be back in the Chelsea squad for Saturday's game against Bournemouth, Jose Mourinho has revealed.

 

First choice goalkeeper has trained fully this week and will be double-checked on Friday ahead of his planned return against Bournemouth.

Mourinho has been without his first-choice goalkeeper since Courtois suffered a knee injury playing for Belgium at the start of September.

But the 23-year-old is ready to return to a Chelsea squad again missing the injured Ramires, Radamel Falcao and captain John Terry.

"Courtois is selected," Mourinho said at his pre-match press conference. "Thibaut was our keeper all last season and you know how fundamental he was. It's important to have him back."

Diego Costa will also be part of the matchday squad for the Saturday Night Football game at Stamford Bridge, although Mourinho would not disclose whether he plans to recall the striker to his starting line-up.

Costa was left on the bench for last weekend's goalless draw at Tottenham and threw his warm-up bib in the direction of his manager towards the end of the game.

Mourinho played down the incident at the time and said on Friday: "He has been very good, normally he trains very well and it has been a good week for him. He has trained well and that is the only thing that matters for me. 

Jose Mourinho says he has no problem with Chelsea striker Diego Costa

"There are no question marks from me. He always plays, but he was on the bench for one match which is natural. No problem. No problem at all. 

"He is the kind of player that always tries. I need him to be what he is and always try hard."

Mourinho said Bournemouth "deserve respect" going into the Stamford Bridge meeting, but with Chelsea on a three-match unbeaten run their manager believes December represents an opportunity to make up ground in the Premier League.