Chelsea striker Diego Costa is expected to face Newcastle in a protective face mask after he broke his nose in training on Thursday.
Interim boss Guus Hiddink revealed the striker suffered the injury in a training ground collision with an unnamed academy player, who was training with the first-team squad.
It later emerged Canadian defender Fikayo Tomori was the player involved.
“Yesterday in training Diego got in a duel, got his nose broken,” Hiddink said. “It was not this tough duel, but he put his nose on the back of the head and he was very unlucky.”
Costa is poised to join full-back Cesar Azpilicueta in wearing a protective face mask in today’s clash with the Magpies. Azpilicueta is recovering from a fractured cheekbone.
Hiddink added: “We are a team with a lot of masks. A Zorro team. I hope. I’m not sure, but I think he will be available.”
Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill have also worn protective masks this season, while Cesc Fabregas is among those to have worn masks in recent seasons.
The blow was a reminder of Chelsea’s reliance on Costa, with Loic Remy (calf) out in recent weeks and Radamel Falcao (thigh) absent since October.
Hiddink, whose initial reaction to Costa’s blow was a worried groan, added: “When things happen, we go ahead with the people available. And with confidence.”
Chelsea’s defensive options have been reduced, too, after Kurt Zouma suffered a season-ending knee injury against United, meaning a likely return for Cahill.
