Chelsea: Guus Hiddink confident Diego Costa will be fit for Paris Saint-Germain showdown

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink is hopeful Diego Costa will be fit in time for the club's Champions League second-leg showdown with Paris Saint-Germain. Costa, 26, was left out of the Blues squad that drew 1-1 with Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 5 March due to a minor tendon problem.

Chelsea trail 2-1 from their first-leg meeting with the Ligue 1 champions but they are likely to have their top scorer back for Wednesday's game, with Hiddink insisting his absence today was a precautionary move.

"He had a little problem on the tendon, so that's why I was bit cautious not to take the risk of worsening the situation," Hiddink said post-match, ESPN report. "I think he will be OK on Wednesday."

Before Saturday's match, Hiddink had suggested he was considering resting Costa for the Stoke game anyway.

"It's difficult to put a brake on him," Hiddink told a press conference on Friday. "Maybe he won't have a full game because we go also with the data of the medics and physiologists. He is in perfect physical shape, but we must be careful not to overload him in games. He is difficult to stop.

"He wants to play every game, but I must be careful with that. Tomorrow he will start. Who am I to stop this man? We must let him go, but sometimes I have to put on a leash."

Costa's replacement Bertrand Traore opened the scoring for his side after 39minutes with a fine finish but the home side were unable to hold onto their lead with Mame Biram Diouf equalising with five minutes of the match remaining. January signing Alexandre Pato was left on the bench for the entire match, with Hiddink turning to Loic Remy in the second half to provide some additional fire power.

The Blues remain unbeaten under Hiddink but remain 10 points behind fourth placed Manchester City with nine games of the season remaining.