Diego Costa hurt during Chelsea training in Bangkok as striker limps away from challenge ahead of Thailand All-Stars friendly

  • Chelsea striker Diego Costa has suffered with injury a lot this season and he picked up a problem again in Thailand
  • Costa limped away from a challenge by Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel and had to be escorted from the pitch
  • Chelsea are preparing for post-season friendly against Thailand All-Stars at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok
  • Versatile Chelsea full back Cesar Azpiliceuta spent some of the training session in goal on a relaxed early evening
  • Costa was able to sign autographs for supporters inside the stadium as hundreds of children watched Chelsea train 
  • Petr Cech is expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer but he has traveled and is coping with jet lag 
  • CLICK HERE for all the latest Chelsea news 

Diego Costa's injury curse appeared to strike again as the 21-goal Chelsea striker was escorted off during training in Bangkok after a strong challenge from John Obi Mikel.

Costa fired his new club to the Barclays Premier League title after his £32million move from Atletico Madrid last summer, but his impact towards the end of the season was somewhat stunted by injury problems.

And having only returned to first-team action less than a fortnight ago, he has suffered another problem on the club's post-season tour ahead of their game against Thailand All-Stars on Saturday.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa's injury curse appeared to strike again as the 21-goal hitman was escorted off during training in Bangkok

Chelsea striker Diego Costa's injury curse appeared to strike again as the 21-goal hitman was escorted off during training in Bangkok

Costa grimaces on the turf after suffering a problem with his right foot following John Obi Mikel's challenge at the Rajamangala Stadium

Costa grimaces on the turf after suffering a problem with his right foot following John Obi Mikel's challenge at the Rajamangala Stadium

Costa leaves the pitch with only one boot on
Mourinho will have been worried to see his star striker take a knock

Costa, who Jose Mourinho wants to help back to fitness, left the pitch without his right boot after the challenge from Mikel

The Spain international was in obvious discomfort as he left the field, escorted off by Chelsea's physio staff early on Friday evening

The Spain international was in obvious discomfort as he left the field, escorted off by Chelsea's physio staff early on Friday evening

Costa plays a pass to John Terry during a game of keep-ball at the Rajamangala Stadium as Chelsea prepare for their post-season friendly

Costa plays a pass to John Terry during a game of keep-ball at the Rajamangala Stadium as Chelsea prepare for their post-season friendly

Nigerian midfielder Mikel apologised to Costa after his tackle brought the Spain international down at the Rajamangala Stadium on Friday, but the victim limped away without his boot and had to be escorted from the pitch.

Manager Jose Mourinho has spoken about his concerns for Costa's fitness for much of the season but it had been hoped this post-season period would allow him to play regularly and recover.

Fortunately, Costa was OK to sign autographs for hundreds of young fans waiting for the players at the end of the session alongside John Terry and other members of the first-team squad.

In general, the session was a more light-hearted affair. With Petr Cech expected to leave Chelsea this summer the champions may need a new goalkeeper, so it was time for Mourinho's Mr Versatile to step forward: Cesar Azpilicueta.

Costa was able to sign autographs for some of Chelsea's fans in Thailand as hundreds of children gathered to watch them training

Costa was able to sign autographs for some of Chelsea's fans in Thailand as hundreds of children gathered to watch them training

Nemanja Matic raises his boot to beat Jeremie Boga  on a humid early evening in Bangkok ahead of the game against Thailand All-Stars

Nemanja Matic raises his boot to beat Jeremie Boga on a humid early evening in Bangkok ahead of the game against Thailand All-Stars

Mourinho presided over a mixture of first-team and youth players at the Rajamangala Stadium on the champions' post-season tour

Mourinho presided over a mixture of first-team and youth players at the Rajamangala Stadium on the champions' post-season tour

Eden Hazard shields the ball during Friday's session, and the Football of the Year was unsurprisingly popular with the local fans

Eden Hazard shields the ball during Friday's session, and the Football of the Year was unsurprisingly popular with the local fans

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who started against Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion recently, was among the Chelsea youngsters present

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who started against Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion recently, was among the Chelsea youngsters present

The Spanish full back has played on both sides of defence and even in midfield during his time at Stamford Bridge, and now he's popped up in goal during training in Bangkok.

Azpilicueta donned the gloves between for a section of the session while some of the younger players around the squad were given a chance to shine ahead of an opportunity to get some first-team minutes on Saturday.

Chelsea only arrived in Bangkok on Thursday and a six-hour time difference to contend with and goalkeeper Cech said the squad are finding ways to relax and get used to the new timezone.

Cesar Azpilicueta leaps off the ground to prepare for a shot after donning the goalkeeper's gloves during the session in Bangkok

Cesar Azpilicueta leaps off the ground to prepare for a shot after donning the goalkeeper's gloves during the session in Bangkok

Azpilicueta kicks the ball out of his hands but he is unlikely to get the nod between the sticks next season ahead of Thibaut Courtois

Azpilicueta kicks the ball out of his hands but he is unlikely to get the nod between the sticks next season ahead of Thibaut Courtois

One fan present at the stadium makes it clear who he will be supporting at Saturday's friendly against Thailand All-Stars with his haircut

One fan present at the stadium makes it clear who he will be supporting at Saturday's friendly against Thailand All-Stars with his haircut

Petr Cech spoke about how he got through the jet lag he has suffered from on what could be his last couple of games for Chelsea

Petr Cech spoke about how he got through the jet lag he has suffered from on what could be his last couple of games for Chelsea

Matic, Hazard and Ivanovic bow in front of the dugouts to offer a traditional Thai greeting with their palms pressed together

Matic, Hazard and Ivanovic bow in front of the dugouts to offer a traditional Thai greeting with their palms pressed together

Chelsea captain Terry also got in on the signing action for some of the assembled young supporters at pitchside in Bangkok

Chelsea captain Terry also got in on the signing action for some of the assembled young supporters at pitchside in Bangkok

‘The main thing for me was when we arrived, not to go and sleep all day,’ he said. ‘Everybody deals with jet lag differently but I knew if I went to sleep in the afternoon during the night I would not sleep, so after lunch at the hotel I took a book and read by the pool or a couple of hours, which I haven’t done for a long time! 

Cech added that he hoped the younger members of the squad would enjoy the experience. 'It will be a great experience for us,' he told Chelsea's official website. 'Especially for some of the younger players because it could be the biggest crowd they have played in front of so far.'

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