England gifted boost with absence of Spain’s nine-goal star striker

Spain will be without forward Diego Costa when they face England next week due to injury.

The 28-year-old, who could have earned his 15th international cap against the Three Lions on Tuesday night at Wembley Stadium, has been withdrawn from the visitors’ squad.

Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

The Chelsea striker, who has scored nine goals and provided three assists in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League side so far this season, has been replaced by former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas ahead of next week’s international friendly.

Costa, who did not take part in training on Wednesday after undergoing medical tests to identify the full extent of his injury, will therefore also miss Spain’s World Cup 2018 qualifier against Macedonia on Saturday.

Blues boss Antonio Conte will surely be concerned about the fitness of his star striker upon his return, with Costa netting in back-to-back league games against Southampton and Everton respectively, to fire Chelsea up to second in the Premier League standings.