LONDON -- Guus Hiddink has confirmed that Diego Costa is ready and itching to return for Chelsea in Saturday's Premier League clash with Manchester City, but captain John Terry remains sidelined with an Achilles problem.
Costa, 27, has not played competitive football in more than a month, having served a three-match ban after getting sent off in Chelsea's FA Cup quarterfinal defeat to Everton at Goodison Park. And his initial two-match suspension was extended after he pleaded guilty to a Football Association misconduct charge for protesting to referee Michael Oliver and failing to promptly leave the pitch.
The striker had scored 11 goals in 16 matches under Hiddink prior to his dismissal and fellow strikers Alexandre Pato, Bertrand Traore and Radamel Falcao have mustered just one goal between them in his absence.
And Hiddink revealed that Costa has been working hard in training throughout his enforced break and is fully prepared to face City.
Hiddink on Diego Costa: 'He was working very hard, when we were on the road he was here at Cobham. He's eager to play.' #CFC
- Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 15, 2016
"Normally when a player is out for that long a period they have a tendency to take a break, but he didn't," Hiddink said. "He was working very hard, also individually at Cobham with the staff when we were on the road. He's very ambitious and eager to play."
Terry, however, is not yet available. The Chelsea captain underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy this week in a bid to speed up his recovery from an Achilles problem, but is not expected to be available for selection until the Blues face Bournemouth on April 23 at the earliest, with the London derby against Tottenham a week later the likelier target.
Loic Remy is unlikely to play again this season after picking up a serious groin injury against Aston Villa, but Hiddink confirmed that Nemanja Matic has recovered from a serious leg contusion, while Gary Cahill is also available for selection after a hip injury sustained on England duty.
"They are in," Hiddink said of Matic and Cahill. "No [other injury concerns], just a bit for Kenedy but he's able to be in the squad."
Earlier on Friday, Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that City captain Vincent Kompany and midfielder David Silva would both miss the trip to Stamford Bridge through injury.
The Chilean's priority is now the Champions League after City's victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, and Hiddink insists their presence in the semifinals is good for English football.
"City had a beautiful week," Hiddink added. "It's good for them to be in the last four of Europe, it's a reward for their efforts. Liverpool yesterday [against Dortmund] were on the edge of being out, 0-2 down, 1-3 down, and they got it in the last second.
"For them and for English football it's good to have English teams [in the final rounds of European competition]. When we're not rivals we should support them when they're in Europe."
Asked if he expected City's European exploits to inspire or distract them, Hiddink replied: "There are still some days before they play Real Madrid. Their team is getting into a certain flow of success and results. We had that also recently. For us it's one more reason to expect a very strong opposition."