Diego Costa: Chelsea Striker Named in Spain Squad Despite Jose Mourinho's Injury Concerns

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has included Chelsea's Diego Costa in his 23-man squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia next week, despite Jose Mourinho's concerns about the striker fitness.

The Spaniard finished last season with a hamstring injury and the Chelsea manager recently blamed Spain after Costa suffered a recurrence to the injury during the last international break.

Costa was injured during the friendly defeat to France on 4 September, with him being withdrawn from the squad the next day before returning to London.

Five days later, Mourinho handed him a starting role against Swansea in the Premier League, with Costa scoring his first hat-trick for the Blues.

Mourinho has since insisted Costa is unable to play more than once within a seven-day period. However, he risked him during the Champions League victory over Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday 30 September and is set to use him again for the third match in a week against Arsenal in the Premier League game on Sunday 5 October.

By adding Costa to his 23-man squad, Del Bosque appears to have concluded that if the striker is fit enough to play for his club, he is able to play for his country.

Spain face Slovakia on 9 October before playing Luxembourg three days later in the hope of qualifying for Euro 2016, which takes place in France.

Del Bosque has also included Costa's teammates Cesc Fabregas and Cesar Azpilicueta, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, Manchester City star David Silva and Arsenal's Santi Cazorla. However, United's Juan Mata has been excluded again.

Earlier this week, Costa claimed that even though he didn't want tempers to flare up between Mourinho and Del Bosque, he wanted to be named for Spain.

"I hope I am OK to go with Spain. If I played 90 minutes it is clear that I am fine. I am feeling better all the time and it is the boss's [Del Bosque's] decision," he said.

When questioned whether he feared a war between Mourinho and Del Bosque could occur, Costa said: "I do not believe that could happen. I have already had enough with the issue about Brazil. Now I must stay relaxed to be able to work and do things well with the national team too.

"During the week I am working in an intensive way with the physios because I have some issues from a while back."