Chelsea Injury News: Diego Costa and Ramires Set to Return for QPR Clash

Chelsea received a major boost ahead of the west London Derby against Queens Park Rangers with Jose Mourinho confirming Diego Costa and Ramires will be fit for the clash.

The Spanish international striker has been suffering from a hamstring problem that had ruled him out of the Blues' last four games.

Costa picked up the injury on international duty, and that has been a major part of Mourinho's press conferences of late. The Portuguese manager has openly accused Spain of overusing the striker, which he believes led to the injury.

The former Atletico Madrid striker has been in inspiring form since his summer switch and has scored nine goals in nine appearances to help Chelsea to an unbeaten run in the Premier League so far.

"Without any further complications, Diego Costa and Ramires will be fit to face QPR at the weekend," Mourinho said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

Brazilian midfielder Ramires has been sidelined for longer than Costa and will find it a touch harder to make his way back into the first team, as Mourinho now firmly favours the Nemanja Matic-Cesc Fabregas partnership at the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

Costa's absence has not been missed despite Loic Remy being injured and Mourinho admitting to having injury problems. Blues legend Didier Drogba has stepped in and played an important role, and has even managed to score three goals in as many appearances.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has praised Drogba following Chelsea's narrow victory over League Two side Shrewsbury Town in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

The Stamford Bridge outfit took the lead in the second half, but Shrewsbury levelled with 13 minutes remaining and it took an own goal nine minutes from time to take Chelsea into the last eight of the competition.

"I was worried when they equalised but we go through and Didier played a massive part in that," Mourinho said.

This was Drogba's second game in less than 48 hours and he played 90 minutes yet again. The manager is hoping that he will be fit for the weekend clash against QPR, but Mourinho has credited the striker's character rather than his physical condition for the impressive performances against Manchester United and the Shrews.

"Hopefully he will be good for the weekend but we will have to see because right now his character is stronger than his body. Maybe what he has done is through his character – not his body.

"'That's what makes players special and if I was a kid player and I play with this guy on my side, 18, 19, 21, 22, what can I wish more? For the kids it is a privilege and they have to learn by example," the Blues manager explained.