- Chelsea vs Hull

Match preview

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Diego Costa will have benefited from his midweek exertions ahead of Saturday's visit of Hull City.

Costa played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday as Chelsea eased to a 3-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League.

The Spain international has featured in four matches without scoring since claiming his 11th Barclays Premier League goal of the season against West Bromwich Albion on 22 November.

But Mourinho declared himself pleased with the 26-year-old's contribution in the clash with Sporting, as Costa seeks to return to peak fitness and form after persistent hamstring trouble this term.

"He wants to improve his condition," explained Mourinho. "The confidence is not high, the condition is not the best but he wants to use the game [against Sporting] to chase lots of runs and movements, always wanting the ball, always wanting to associate with the wingers and with [Cesc] Fabregas.

"[It was] very important for him. I saw him better than against Newcastle, better than against Sunderland. This game was important for him."

Chelsea will be determined to bounce back on Saturday after losing their unbeaten record to Newcastle United last weekend.

A Papiss Cisse brace at St James' Park ensured Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time in 24 matches, but they remain top of the league - three points clear of reigning champions Manchester City - and will be expected to get back on track against a Hull side that is winless in eight.

Steve Bruce's men dropped into the bottom three following a 0-0 draw with West Brom in their last outing and have three fewer points at this stage of the season than they had in 2009-10, when they were ultimately relegated from the BPL.

Bruce could hand a recall to captain Curtis Davies, who has been left on the bench for his side's last two matches, and Nikica Jelavic will be in contention for a starting place after illness restricted him to a late appearance as a substitute against West Brom.

Gaston Ramirez remains suspended for Hull, having been sent off against Tottenham Hotspur last month.

Petr Cech will play in goal for Chelsea against Hull City on Saturday after Thibaut Courtois picked up a minor muscular injury in training.

But Mourinho has John Terry, Eden Hazard, Branislav Ivanovic, Oscar and Willian in contention after being rested on Wednesday, with Chelsea already confirmed as winners of their Champions League group, while teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek made his debut.

The Portuguese can call upon Nemanja Matic against Hull after the Serbia midfielder missed the loss to Newcastle through suspension, but Cesc Fabregas serves a one-match ban of his own for picking up five bookings this term.

Chelsea ran out 2-0 winners in each of their meetings with Hull last term and have never lost to the Yorkshire club in the Barclays Premier League.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Courtois, Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Salah, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy, Schurrle, Solanke.

Hull City (from): Harper, Jakupovic, McGregor, Bruce, Chester, Davies, Dawson, Maguire, McShane, Robertson, Rosenior, Ben Arfa, Brady, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Meyler, Quinn, Aluko, Hernandez, Jelavic, Sagbo.

Match Appointments
Referee: Chris Foy Assistants: H Lennard, A Garratt Fourth Official: P Tierney

Match Facts
Loic Remy and Didier Drogba have both scored three goals in three Barclays Premier League matches against Hull City.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 10 encounters with Hull City in all competitions (W8 D2), including all six in the Barclays Premier League (W4 D2 L0).
Mohamed Diame has scored four goals from just four shots on target in the league this season.
Allan McGregor, who saved a penalty from Frank Lampard in this fixture last season, has saved all three of the spot-kicks he has faced in the BPL. No goalkeeper has saved four consecutive penalties in the competition.