Football: Diego Costa trains alone amid China reports
Chelsea striker Diego Costa trained alone for the second day in a row on Monday
LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea striker Diego Costa trained alone for the second day in a row on Monday at the club s training base, British media reported, as he recovers from an apparent back injury.
The Spain forward s Chelsea future was called into question after he was left out of the Premier League leaders win at champions Leicester on Saturday amid speculation he could be the subject of a colossal bid from a wealthy Chinese club.
Manager Antonio Conte, however, was adamant it was injury -- rather than an apparent fall-out with Costa -- which prevented the 28-year-old featuring.
Costa, who has scored 14 Premier League goals in 19 appearances this season, will have his fitness evaluated again ahead of Chelsea s match at home to Hull on Sunday.
"If there is a problem -- and I repeat if -- with the players then in my career I prefer to sort the problem in the changing room, not outside and not in a press conference," said Conte on Saturday.
"But I repeat -- if. I have told the truth."
China says it will cut foreign player numbers in top-flight teams in a bid to curb massive spending on overseas talent.
Shanghai SIPG last month broke the Asian transfer record when they paid Chelsea 60 million euros ($63 million) for the Brazilian midfielder Oscar.
